Hey there! I'm Sam! If you're feeling down, not yourself, anxious or just need to "get back on track" with life, you've come to right spot. A calm and approachable environment is something I take pride in, a place where you can be yourself in whatever form that may be. I'm here to help you find the courage and strength to overcome the obstacles you've been faced with. Some of us have been dealt a bad deck of cards in this life! I see you. I hear you. I will sit with you. I will challenge you. Most importantly, I will meet you where you are and allow you the space to vent and feel, without judgment. I'm excited to meet you and be apart of this journey of healing and discovery with you!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we will do a full introduction and get to know each other. The very beginning will be me discussing policy and procedures, expectations of you as a client and what you can expect from me as your therapist. The initial session will always be an assessment. An assessment will be me asking a ton of questions to get to know you better and help me understand what your current goals are and the reason for seeking treatment! The first few sessions will generally be about building rapport and trust.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Building rapport is my favorite part of being a therapist. It takes a lot for someone to trust a stranger and I think one of my biggest strengths is creating a warm and welcoming environment. I get it, opening up is HARD, so when I am building a bond/rapport with a new client, I am going into the situation with the understanding that not everyone opens up so easily so I treat that with great care. I love pulling creativity out of people - sometimes we lean on what we know and get scared of new trying new things, but I am here to build your confidence and over time, hopefully you feel you can try anything you want!
About Samantha Avila
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is one of my favorite treatment methods to utilize as it incorporates exercises that can be used on a daily basis without having a ton of background information. The DBT skills that I find most beneficial are getting in touch with your logical mind, emotional mind and wise mind! It also incorporates mindfulness which helps with emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
I love utilizing parents when working with kids and teens - it's definitely a necessity in my practice! I firmly believe that while working with kids and teens can be challenging, it's even more challenging when the parents are not involved. I think this treatment method really strengthens the both between parent and child and increases healthy and effective communication. The only way this works is to have an open mind and be able to not only listen, but hear!
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a tried and true method! Again, not a ton of background information is needed to successfully gain information from this. This treatment method allows you to learn how to actively challenge intrusive thoughts, reframe negative thoughts, refocus perspective, etc. I love to incorporate art and creativity in all areas of my practice and CBT is a perfect outlet for that.
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