Hi! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. I received my Undergraduate degree in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill, my Master's degree from East Carolina University and Ph.D. from UNC-Greensboro/NC A&T State University's Joint Ph.D. program. I have been practicing for 23 years. I love working with early career, middle-aged, and older professionals and retirees who are committed to enhancing their quality of life, heal from their past, and improve their emotional and physical health. My clients are eager to improve, but don't yet have the tools needed to make this goal a reality. They often feel stuck, overwhelmed and anxious about their future.

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

In the first session, we'll start with brief introductions, discuss specific challenges, go through an overview of my practice policies, and discuss what to expect in treatment. The first session is relaxed, giving way to the client and me getting to know each other and starting to build a therapeutic alliance from day one. Lastly, I work with all new clients to develop specific treatment goals and conclude with a conversation about scheduling.

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

Having worked with both adolescents and adults for 23 years, I've developed a track record of equipping clients with strong clinical tools that they can apply to their situations and symptoms outside our sessions. I do this by a) helping you find the root causes of your symptoms and b) Teaching you CBT coping skills to use immediately that foster emotional healing and growth 3) Sometimes assigning mild homework, short video clips to watch, and worksheets that emphasize topics covered in therapy. Clients tend to enjoy my approach which is to help them build a "clinical toolbox" of resources and interventions.

About Denise Dawson