Hakuna Matata. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor both in Tennessee and next in Texas. Houston Christian University is where I received a Masters of Arts in Psychology over 17 years ago. My favorite clients are contemporaries who are experiencing issues with aging parents and have difficult decisions to make concerning end-of-life care and/or the grieving that often follows those tough choices. Mental fitness includes acceptance of ones choices made during traumatic life phases. Enjoying a life of integrity many times is a choice one must make. I want to help you with that. Hakuna Matata means "don't worry, be happy!" That's a choice.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Together we will learn about each others past experiences and develop a plan to move forward.
Planning is our most valuable tool while understanding most plans are useless. It is the ability to make the plans, and then, change them as we go to fit the ever-changing circumstances that is the real goal. Again, mental flexibility will be our highest achievement.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Work in senior life groups showed me the benefits we get from connecting with others during life crises. Talking about these problems lessens the anxiety (fear of the future) as well as depression (regret over the past). Listening to others' problems is my greatest strength, followed by hearing what they say and finally, seeing the situation from their perspective. Validation is a powerful first step toward healing and change.
About Sherry Whiteside
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is my favorite technique. I first learned it from the founder, Dr. David Grande, in 2005 and again in 2020. His philosophy is that the client is the one who holds all the knowledge. And we (the therapist) follow our clients' lead. Generational BS developed by Dr. Ruby Gibson added insight to how connection to family who came before us and how impactful they are to us unconsciously and eventually consciously. Dr. Pie Frey demonstrated the importance of a therapist's attunement with a client to promote emotional healing.
Clients work hard to identify where in their body they feel the disturbance or tension or anxiety. Focusing on uncomfortable sensations can be tiring for a client. However, unleashing trapped emotions is a great relief and a step toward peacefulness.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
In a similar way that Brainspotting values the clients' direction, Person-centered Therapy believes that unconditional positive regard toward our client promotes healing. When a client is truly heard without judgment, they can move forward to positive change.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Attaining psychological flexibility is the goal. Steps to get there include staying in the moment, then just noticing the feelings, acknowledging them without pushing them away. Putting a different label on them than you have before improves your response to them. Know that you are not your thoughts, they do not control you. You can learn to control them, especially when you focus on your values and what is important to you and how to implement those values for the good of your family and others.
