Thank you for considering me as your therapist in your journey to improving your mental health!  Seeking treatment can be an extremely daunting task, especially within a culture where mental health may not be openly discussed.  This leaves individuals struggling alone with distressing mental health symptoms including anxiety, stress, fear, insecurities, isolation, depression, racing thoughts, poor self-image and many others.  With a lack of support or a safe environment to openly share these experiences, it can be extremely difficult and overwhelming to understand how to manage these symptoms in a healthy way.  This can lead to maladaptive coping skills including substance use, overworking, self-harm, suicidal ideations, hypersexuality, and other risky behaviors.  Even maladaptive coping skills are part of the brain's effort to protect us from the discomfort that comes with mental health symptoms. My goal is to assist empower clients to take control and manage these symptoms independently.  I assist clients with gaining insight about their difficulties and how they experience mental health symptoms in their lives.  I provide clients with psychoeducation to achieve this insight and then work toward developing concrete coping skills in an effort to manage the symptoms.  We will work together to identify short term and long term goals that the client hoping to achieve in therapy and I will ensure that we stay on track toward achieving those goals.  Through accomplishing these goals, clients are able to increase their emotional intelligence and resilience as they manage day to day stressors. I am structured in my approach and committed to seeing progress for my clients as they take on the challenge of self-improvement.  My clinical orientation is in trauma work.  I assist clients with understanding their trauma in their life and how it impacts them today.  I emphasize the unique cultural backgrounds of my clients and all the different traits of their identity to assist them with understanding themselves in a more complete way. In person services available for clients near Santa maria, Ca.  Telehealth services are available for clients throughout the state.  Feel free to reach out directly via phone call or text to discuss scheduling details or to ask any other relevant questions! (805)250-6802 I'd be happy to answer any questions!

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session, we will begin with brief introductions and I will provide you with a more thorough explanation of my experience and background. We will also discuss the specific challenges you are experiencing and the goals you hope to accomplish. I will ask you some background questions to complete my initial assessment and capture an understanding of what clinical symptoms you are experiencing. I will answer any questions you may have about the therapeutic process or my particular approach or style in treatment.

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

I emphasize cultural awareness in my treatment with clients. I will work with the client to identify any cultural barriers in their mental health and develop a plan to overcome those barriers. My treatment is rooted in CBT strategies, mindfulness, and solution focused techniques. I help clients come up with solutions any difficulties they may be experiencing.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

My style is to be very direct with the client to ensure that they are receiving as much feedback as possible in a way that will help them build awareness. I offer transparency and objectivity in my feedback as I identify patterns or tendencies in what the client is presenting with. I operate from a trauma informed approach and help clients understand their struggles through a trauma lens. Spending so many years working in the forensic setting, I tend to get straight to the point in order to maximize our time together and maintain progress toward the goals we have identified together.

About Jeremy Acevedo, LCSW