Elaine Dern
Life can feel overwhelming when self-doubt, fear of rejection, past hurts, or negative thought patterns keep you feeling stuck. I believe therapy offers an opportunity to better understand yourself, gain insight into these patterns, and create meaningful change.
I
Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and an insight-oriented approach, I help clients identify the thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that may be contributing to emotional distress. Together, we explore the challenges that are holding you back while building on the strengths you already possess. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered. As you develop greater self-awareness and learn new ways to respond to life's challenges, you can begin making choices that support healing, growth, and emotional well-being. Change is not always easy, but taking the first step is often the most important. If you are ready to gain greater clarity, confidence, and peace, I would be honored to support you on your journey.
First session
During our first session, my primary goal is to create a safe, comfortable, and supportive space where you can begin sharing your story at your own pace. We will talk about what brings you to therapy and the challenges, concerns, or goals that are most important to you. To better understand your experiences and develop the most effective treatment plan, I will complete a comprehensive assessment. This includes exploring your personal background, cultural and spiritual beliefs, family history, educational and vocational experiences, current relationships, and other factors that have shaped your life. We will also discuss any legal concerns, substance use history, medical and mental health history, current medications, sleep patterns, appetite or weight changes, and any past or present thoughts of self-harm, suicide, or harm to others. If you have ever been hospitalized for mental health concerns, we will review those experiences as well. The purpose of gathering this information is not to judge, but to gain a deeper understanding of who you are and what support will be most helpful for you. Together, we will identify your strengths, clarify your goals, and develop a treatment plan that feels meaningful and achievable. Therapy is a collaborative process, and your input is valued every step of the way. Throughout treatment, you will have access to assessment measures and progress-tracking tools that allow you to see your growth over time. These visual markers can help you recognize the progress you are making, celebrate successes, and identify areas where additional support may be helpful. My goal is to partner with you in creating lasting change and helping you move toward the life you want to live.
Strengths
I believe therapy offers an opportunity to gain deeper insight into yourself and the patterns that may be keeping you stuck. Using an insight-oriented approach combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I help clients identify the thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that may be contributing to emotional distress and preventing them from moving forward. Often, it is our negative beliefs about ourselves, fear of rejection or abandonment, and feelings of not being "good enough" that quietly take hold and shape how we experience the world. Over time, these beliefs can leave us feeling trapped, leading to frustration, anger, anxiety, sadness, or isolation. Throughout my years of practice, I have found that these struggles are common among many of the clients I meet. The good news is that change is possible. As you begin to understand your thought patterns and recognize the strengths you already possess, you can start making conscious choices that move you toward the life you want to live. Change is not always easy, but taking the first step by scheduling a therapy appointment is often one of the most important decisions you can make. Seeking support is a sign of courage, not weakness. If you have taken the time to read this profile, perhaps a part of you is already considering what life could look like with greater clarity, confidence, and peace. If so, I would be honored to walk alongside you as you begin that journey.
Ideal clients
The ideal client is someone who feels exhausted from carrying the same struggles over and over again and is ready for something to change. You may know life can be better, but feel unsure of how to get there or how all the pieces fit together. I view therapy much like working on a puzzle. Each piece represents a part of your experiences, relationships, thoughts, and emotions. Together, we take the time to understand those pieces and gently put them into place. As the picture becomes clearer, so does your understanding of yourself and your path forward. People come to therapy for many different reasons, but often the fears, hurts, or beliefs that hold us back are the very things that need the most care and attention. Within a safe, trusting, and supportive therapeutic relationship, you can begin to explore these challenges, develop new perspectives, and build on your strengths. Meaningful change happens one step at a time, and therapy can help you create a life that feels more balanced, fulfilling, and aligned with who you truly are. Make it shorter
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Together, we will identify your challenges and goals—where you want your life to be a month, six months, a year from now. Then, we'll identify options and strategies you can use to get there. You'll leave the session with a better understanding of what you're facing with an "actions I can take right now" approach. There will always be room for suggestions regarding our work together, including how we keep each other accountable. In the first session the goal will be to define the issues which led you to seek help. This is the first step. Once the therapeutic process is explained, issues warranting breaking possible confidentiality, the main concern in any therapeutic relationship is to provide 1:1 intervention to protect your health personal safety in preventing interventions which may lead to suicidal thoughts or safety of another individual. Identifying interventions to accomplish your goals balance of emotional regulation is the optimal goal. Measurable test and questions will be administered to assist the client in monitoring their own visual progress. Issues may be addressed to discuss what is and is not working for the client. In the end of the day the outcome of therapy is to assist the client to feel empowered to make life affirming decisions to continue to live and plan for a future free from victimization.