LCSW, 25 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi, I am Diane, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida for the past 25 years. My approach is to facilitate healing and improved wellbeing through compassionate, authentic, individualized, and evidence-based care. I believe deeply that meaningful connections are fundamental to human wellbeing and healing. From our very first bonds at birth through the complex relationships we navigate throughout life, these connections shape our ability to thrive. My practice focuses on helping individuals, couples, and families develop, strengthen, repair, and sometimes grieve these vital relationships using compassion, acceptance, and proven therapeutic approaches. That which is created within a relationship, can be fixed within a relationship. Murray Bowen, MD Life presents us with countless challenges that can strain our most important relationships—becoming new parents, balancing career and family demands, navigating divorce, managing financial stress, healing from trauma, or addressing teenage struggles. I provide a safe, supportive space where clients can work through these difficulties and emerge with stronger, more caring connections that support lasting healing and growth. My therapeutic approach combines solution-focused techniques with evidence-based treatments, always tailored to meet each client's unique needs and goals. I believe in building on existing strengths while addressing areas that need healing and growth.
The focus of our first session is to provide a warm and welcoming space for you to explain why you are seeking therapy, what is troubling you, and what you hope to gain from treatment. My goal is that you leave the first session feeling heard and with increased hope that there is help for your particular needs and struggles. During initial sessions, I may also complete standardized assessment tools through clinical interview or completion of questionnaires to better understand your current needs. I may also ask about your personal and family history to best get to know you. However, how much that is discussed during our first session will proceed at your pace. I often try to incorporate some fun or lighthearted ways to get to know each other as well. It is difficult to reach out for help and address problems. Therefore, I believe there can be a balance in addressing these issues and taking moments to build rapport and connection to create a safe therapeutic space. Lastly, during our first few sessions, I will explain and offer evidence-based treatment approaches that I may believe may best meet your needs. The choice on how to proceed will be yours.
My biggest strengths are authenticity, compassion, training and experience, honesty, and confidence in the power of healing. With 25 years of practice, I have learned that individuals seem to respond best when they sense I am using my authentic self while also making efforts to instill hope. I try to display confidence that there are ways to heal, change, and resolve troubling issues. You can feel better. I am trained and utilize multiple evidence-based treatment Modalities: • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) • Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) • Alternatives for Families - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT) • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) • Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma • Attachment Based Therapy Structured Family Therapy Secondary Post Traumatic Stress, Vicarious Trauma, and Work Burnout Various play therapy techniques including Autplay, Theraplay, and Sand Tray Therapy Continuing Education: I have completed over 600 hours of specialized training in trauma treatment, infant mental health, attachment theory, sexual abuse dynamics, adoption competency, and play therapy techniques, ensuring I stay current with the latest developments in evidence-based practice.
With 25 years of clinical experience, I specialize in trauma-informed care for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families who have experienced various forms of trauma, including: • Childhood abuse and neglect • Domestic violence • Witnessing community violence • Witnessing suicide and overdose-related trauma • Complex trauma and attachment issues I specialize in young children and work with children ages 3 to 17 addressing concerns such as anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, trauma responses, and neurodevelopmental differences. For children under 12, I also provide specialized treatment for problematic sexual behaviors. My adult services include support for unresolved trauma, parenting challenges, grief and loss, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and family dynamics.
Advanced TF-CBT trained with consultation calls and successful completion of cases. Utilized daily to work with children and adolescents who have experienced a traumatic event. TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment that has been evaluated and refined during the past 30 years to help children and adolescents recover after trauma. TF-CBT is a structured, short-term treatment model that effectively improves a range of trauma-related outcomes in 8-25 sessions with the child/adolescent and caregiver. Although TF-CBT is highly effective at improving youth posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnosis, a PTSD diagnosis is not required in order to receive this treatment. TF-CBT also effectively addresses many other trauma impacts, including affective (e.g., depressive, anxiety), cognitive and behavioral problems, as well as improving the participating parent’s or caregiver’s personal distress about the child’s traumatic experience, effective parenting skills, and supportive interactions with the child
Level 1 EMDR with an attachment base to work with children, adolescents, and adults. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.
Trained in PCIT, completion of consultation calls and cases. The goal of PCIT is to improve the quality of the parent-child relationship by helping caregivers adopt an authoritative parenting style (Baumrind, 1967). Attachment theory principles used in PCIT focus on helping the parent facilitate a warm, supportive relationship as a basis for the development of social skills and emotional regulation. From a social learning perspective, PCIT uses differential attention to address behavioral problems, in addition to having the parent model calm, desired behaviors during parent-child interactions. Additionally, PCIT incorporates authoritative parenting practices by outlining consistent child-rearing practices – with an appropriate balance between nurturance and appropriate limit-setting.
Our early experiences with attachment figures shape the perceptions and actions we develop in adult relationships. If we form an insecure attachment style, we can develop maladaptive ways of viewing the world, others, and ourselves. Attachment-based therapy focuses on the effects of these early relationships on our ability to lead healthy adult relationships, as well as their influence on our motivation and goal orientation.
Structural family therapy focuses on family interactions. The goal is to help you and your family system interact more effectively by focusing on current issues and developing conflict-resolution skills.