LPC, 1 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello! I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Texas. I received my Masters from the University of Our Lady of the Lake in 2018. My goal is to help transform anxiety and self-doubt into opportunities for growth, becoming more resilient with each challenge. I wish to to assist individuals from childhood into adulthood in developing their own resilience and fostering authenticity and purpose in their lives.
Clients can expect several key elements during their first session with a counselor, which are designed to create a safe, supportive, and effective environment for exploring their thoughts and feelings. Here’s what they might anticipate: Warm Welcome and Comfort: Counselors strive to create a welcoming atmosphere. Clients can expect to be greeted warmly and may be offered comfort items, such as water or tea, to help ease any nervousness. Confidentiality and Trust: The counselor will explain the importance of confidentiality in the therapeutic relationship. Clients can expect their personal information and experiences to be treated with respect and privacy. Intake Process: The first session often includes an intake process where the counselor gathers basic information about the client, including their reasons for seeking counseling, background history, and any relevant personal details. This helps to build a comprehensive understanding of the client’s context. Open Dialogue: Clients can expect to engage in an open conversation about their feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Counselors will ask questions to guide the discussion and encourage clients to express themselves fully, but clients can share at their own pace. Setting Goals: Counselors often work with clients to establish goals for therapy. Clients may discuss their hopes for counseling and what they would like to achieve in the therapeutic process. Understanding the Counseling Process: The counselor will explain how therapy works, including different approaches or techniques that may be used. Clients can ask questions about what to expect in future sessions and how the counseling process unfolds. Validation and Support: Clients can expect to feel heard and validated in their experiences. Counselors are trained to provide empathy and understanding, which helps in creating a trusting relationship. Next Steps: Before concluding the session, the counselor may outline the next steps, such as scheduling future sessions or suggesting exercises or practices to work on between sessions, if applicable. Overall, the first session aims to establish a rapport and create a foundation for the therapeutic relationship, allowing clients to feel safe and supported as they embark on their journey toward personal growth and healing.
Empathy and Compassion: The ability to understand and share the feelings of clients is crucial. Empathy allows counselors to connect deeply, making clients feel heard and validated in their experiences. Active Listening Skills: Counselors need to be fully present and attentive during sessions. Active listening helps to create a safe space for clients to express themselves, and it allows the counselor to better understand the client's perspective and needs. Nonjudgmental Attitude: A strong commitment to a nonjudgmental approach encourages clients to speak freely about their thoughts and feelings without fear of criticism. This fosters trust and openness. Cultural Competence: Understanding and appreciating diverse backgrounds, cultures, and identities enhance the counselor's ability to relate to clients from various backgrounds. Cultural competence is essential for tailoring therapy to be relevant and respectful.
Life's journey is indeed a tapestry woven from a myriad of experiences, each thread representing a decision, a challenge, or a moment of joy. For me, the path has unfolded in a series of unexpected twists that have not only tested my resilience but also deepened my understanding of what it means to persevere. There have been times when challenges seemed insurmountable, moments when I thought I had reached my limits. Yet, every setback became a lesson, a stepping stone towards growth. Those difficulties forged a stronger version of myself, teaching me the importance of adaptability and the value of a positive mindset in overcoming obstacles. Triumphs, on the other hand, have provided the motivation to keep pushing forward. Each success, no matter how small, reinforced my belief in hard work and dedication. Celebrating these victories, especially during tough times, reminded me that progress is often measured not just in achievements but in the courage to keep moving forward. Through this journey, I've learned that it’s not just about the destination but about the experiences that shape us along the way. Relationships built, lessons learned, and moments of reflection have all contributed to my character. They remind me to embrace every twist and turn, to welcome uncertainty as an opportunity for growth, and to remain determined to forge my own path. In sharing this journey, I hope to inspire others to view their challenges as part of their unique story, to find strength in adversity, and to celebrate their triumphs, no matter how small. After all, it is these experiences that mold us into the individuals we are meant to be.
Goal Oriented in focusing on specific problems. Question and answer format to help individuals gain a different perspective. Cognitive Restructuring involved asking individuals to come up with evidence to challenge negative beliefs.
CBT to accept their grief and strengthen their beliefs. Building coping strategies regarding grief is a part of circle of life and moving forward with the what we learned from our loves ones to strengthen ourselves.
Body scan meditation, mindfulness stretching involves stretching to reduce stress and anxiety and help our bodies be more comfortable.
Problem solving techniques to assist with social skills, decision making and resolving conflict. ABC framework - A for activating event, B for beliefs, and C for consequences.
Scaling techniques to assist in assessing one's progress and satisfaction with a particular area in their life. Focusing on the future to move forward rather than the source of the problem to focus on the client. Goal Setting to assist people with imagining what life would be life if they achieved their goals.