Emily Materdo
Are you someone who is looking to gain an understanding of why it’s so hard to have a meaningful life? Maybe you have been searching endlessly for an answer to this question but you haven't found it. And coming to therapy feels overwhelming. Look no further because you've come to the right place! My ideal client is you. I help clients to identify the origin of these overwhelming emotions and gain an understanding of how these emotions can affect our daily lives. When clients come to see me, I also share that most importantly what I offer is a different perspective. Using this approach builds trust with clients and insight of understanding my therapeutic approach. In our work together I will empower you to make the choices that will be meaningful to you. I do this by offering empathy and understanding for how therapy is a vulnerable experience that can bring up a lot of emotions. And giving you the space to feel these emotions. It would be a privilege to be part of your therapy journey of self-exploration & self-love.
My years of various work experiences as a medical and clinical social worker has enabled me to have a greater understanding for how the body and mind impact each other.
Lastly, my hobbies include reading, exploring my community for new & exciting activities, , spending time with my family, gardening, and being out in nature with my dog, Chester.
First session
Our first session will be treated as an intake appointment and working together in developing treatment goals.
Strengths
My years of various work experiences as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Medical Social Worker have enabled me to have a greater understanding for how the body and mind impact each other. I am able to help clients identify and process through overwhelming emotions and develop healthy coping skills to manage when these waves of heighten states of emotions appear.
Ideal clients
I thoroughly enjoy working with young professionals and adults who are struggling with their self-esteem, relationships, and life stressors that keep them stuck in their distorted thinking patterns and anxious and depressed feelings. I also enjoy working with the older and disabled adults with physical and emotional needs, which are commonly associated with a client having multiple pre-existing medical diagnosis's.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
As an experienced therapist, I incorporate CBT methods to help clients overcome overwhelming sense of anxiety and self-doubt that can sometimes feel debilitating. CBT focuses on challenging negative distorted thought patterns about yourself and relationships in your life. Once able to identify these negative thoughts, I help clients learn how to cognitively reframe these thoughts into more a positive self-image and confidence.
Compassion-Focused
Self-Compassion therapy is a method that I am most passionate about. Throughout my career as a therapist, I have seen how using this treatment method positively impacts clients in reaching their goals. It’s key to facilitating self-exploration, believing in ourselves, and self-love. Most often clients come to therapy, with feelings of self-doubt and insecurity that stop them from believing in themselves. If you are someone who has experienced invalidating relationships throughout your life and developed a core belief that you aren’t ‘good enough’ then I am the therapist for you. I feel passionate and connected to the benefits and enlightenment that Self-Compassion can give to all of us.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Like Self-Compass therapy, I am passionate about how IFS focuses on helping clients to start noticing younger injured parts of Self and how they appear in today’s relationships. Clients will come to therapy asking questions why did that happen to me? Or is there a part of me that doesn’t know why I did that? With a mindset of curiosity and empathy, I help clients to process their trauma and learn about their Protectors, Managers, and Exiles parts. IFS is a proven method that helps clients achieve a goal of healing from painful memories to understanding and having empathy for all their parts.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
When working with clients that struggle with regulating their emotions and having healthy relationships, DBT is a recommended treatment approach to improving these areas. This structured approach helps clients to become more grounded and self-aware of their overly emotional responses to stressors. Teaching clients about “Wise Mind” is a key component of the beginning stages of DBT; therefore, it’s the basis in which we work together in becoming skilled in regulating emotions, applying healthy coping skills, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) has been shown to be a proven method of helping clients to work through with decreasing resistance to change to openness and applying change behaviors. When using this method, it's important to acknowledge where you are at and guiding you through the different stages of change associated with MI. In using MI, I focus on teaching clients the meaning for Locust of Control and how our resistance to change represents us wanting to stay in control which keeps us safe from harm. In my experience as a therapist, a key element to using MI is helping clients learn how to implement change so that they will develop more effective and goal-oriented skills in their decision-making processes.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions301 McCullough Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262
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Licensed in
- North CarolinaLicense C017661
- South CarolinaLicense TLS 1160 CP