My name is Shardae Collins I am a licensed clinical social worker who offers telehealth therapy to individuals residing in California, Washington, Nevada, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. I support individuals in recognizing their strength and resilience regardless of the cards that were dealt to them. My therapeutic approach explores your environment and lived experience to better understand your strengths, needs, and hopes for the future. I believe that you have the power to heal yourself. I am simply a guide. I provide a non-judgmental safe space for you to freely express yourself. My approach is one that is direct, culturally relevant, sensitive, trauma informed, and non-shaming. I specialize in anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship issues, and trauma and PTSD. I offer individual therapy rooted in mindfulness. Therapy can be hard and sometimes scary. I get it, I am here to support you on this journey. I look forward to supporting you on your journey to healing and self-discovery
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, we will began with introductions. We will then spend some time discussing the issues that brought you into therapy. We will discuss my approach to therapy. This an opportunity for you to determine if this is a good fit for you. It's important to have a good relationship with your therapist as this rapport plays a major role in the healing process. I recommend 3 sessions before committing to therapy with me as this is a healing journey and I want you to feel comfortable.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am very passionate about helping people discover their innate wisdom, strength, and resilience. I find joy in witnessing people let go of old patterns that do not serve them well and discover their authentic selves. My greatest strength as a provider is my ability to by direct and honest but compassionate.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I have experience working with individuals across the lifespan which include: children, teenagers, young adults, older adults, and elderly. I typically work with individual who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma or life transitions.
About Shardae L. Collins, LICSW
Identifies as
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I am certified in DBT. I typically use DBT with people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, or individual who want to improve their relationships within their personal lives. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, is a type of talk therapy designed to help people manage intense emotions and improve relationships. It’s often used to treat mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, or borderline personality disorder, but it can be helpful for anyone struggling to cope with overwhelming feelings. Think of DBT like learning life skills in four main areas: Mindfulness: This is about staying present in the moment instead of getting lost in worries about the past or future. It’s like training your brain to focus, notice your feelings, and not judge yourself harshly. Emotion Regulation: This is about understanding your emotions and learning tools to handle them without becoming overwhelmed. It’s like having a guidebook for dealing with big feelings. Distress Tolerance: These are skills to get through tough situations without making things worse. It’s about learning how to ride out emotional storms with healthy coping methods. Interpersonal Effectiveness: This focuses on building stronger relationships by communicating better, setting boundaries, and saying "no" when needed, all while respecting others and yourself. DBT combines acceptance (acknowledging where you are now) with change (taking steps to improve). It's not just about talking; it's about practicing skills that can make your daily life better.
EMDR
I am in the process of completing level 1 BASIC EMDR training and i am receiving ongoing consultation/supervision. I use this intervention to support people who maybe struggling with trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and grief. EMDR, or **Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing**, is a type of therapy designed to help people process and heal from traumatic experiences. It’s especially effective for people who have experienced events that feel "stuck" in their minds, like flashbacks, nightmares, or intense emotional reactions tied to specific memories. Here’s how it works, in simple terms: 1. **Identifying the Memory**: You start by talking with the therapist to identify a troubling memory or experience that’s still causing you distress. 2. **Processing with Bilateral Stimulation**: During the session, the therapist will guide you to focus on the memory while also engaging in something called *bilateral stimulation*. This could mean following their hand with your eyes, listening to alternating tones through headphones, or taping. 3. **Reprocessing the Memory**: The bilateral stimulation helps your brain process the memory in a new way, so it feels less upsetting over time. It’s as if your brain is taking the emotional charge out of the memory and reorganizing it so it no longer feels overwhelming. 4. **Resolution and Healing**: The goal is to reduce the emotional distress connected to the memory and replace it with a sense of calm or empowerment. EMDR doesn’t erase the memory, but it helps your brain "file it away" so it no longer feels as intense or intrusive. It’s based on the idea that the brain can heal itself, much like how the body heals from physical wounds, given the right conditions.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I recieved 4 months of training in CBT interventions while employed at Rogers Behavioral Health Hospital. I use CBT to support people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, negative thinking, low self-esteem, and low self-worth. CBT, or **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy**, is a type of talk therapy that helps people identify and change patterns of thinking and behavior that might be causing problems in their lives. It's practical and focused on the "here and now," meaning it looks at what's happening now and what can be done to make things better. Here’s how it works in simple terms: 1. **Thoughts, Feelings, and Actions Are Connected**: CBT is based on the idea that how you think about something affects how you feel, and how you feel affects what you do. For example, if you think, "I’m going to fail," you might feel anxious and avoid trying, which could lead to not succeeding. 2. **Identifying Unhelpful Patterns**: A therapist helps you spot negative or unhelpful thoughts, like assuming the worst, being overly critical of yourself, or jumping to conclusions. These patterns are called *cognitive distortions*. 3. **Challenging and Changing Thoughts**: Once you’ve identified these thoughts, the therapist teaches you ways to question them. For example, if you think, "I’m a failure," they might help you find evidence that challenges that belief, like times you succeeded. 4. **Building Healthier Habits**: CBT also looks at behaviors that may be reinforcing the problem, like avoiding situations that make you anxious. The therapist helps you practice new, more effective behaviors. 5. **Practical Exercises**: CBT often includes homework, like journaling your thoughts, practicing relaxation techniques, or gradually facing fears step by step (a process called exposure). The goal is to break negative cycles by changing the way you think and behave, leading to better emotional well-being and problem-solving skills. It’s like learning tools to become your own mental coach.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
I received 4 months of training in Exposure Response Prevent therapy while employed at Rogers Behavioral Hospital. I use this intervention to support people who have OCD, anxiety, and phobias. ERP, or **Exposure and Response Prevention**, is a type of therapy designed to help people face and overcome fears or obsessions without relying on avoidance or compulsions to feel better. It’s commonly used to treat conditions like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), phobias, and anxiety disorders. Here’s how it works in everyday terms: 1. **Facing Your Fears**: ERP helps you gradually confront things that trigger anxiety or distress. For example, if you’re afraid of germs, you might be guided to touch something you consider "dirty" (like a doorknob) without washing your hands immediately after. 2. **Stopping the Unhelpful Response**: The "Response Prevention" part means you work on resisting the urge to do behaviors (like compulsions or rituals) that you’d normally use to reduce anxiety, such as excessive handwashing, checking, or seeking reassurance. 3. **Learning to Tolerate Anxiety**: By staying in the situation without escaping or performing a compulsion, you give your brain a chance to realize that the fear isn’t as dangerous as it feels. Over time, the anxiety naturally decreases, and the fear becomes less powerful. 4. **Building Confidence**: ERP works through repeated, controlled exposure to what scares you, starting with smaller challenges and working up to bigger ones. This gradual approach helps build your confidence and reduces avoidance. 5. **Breaking the Cycle**: OCD and anxiety thrive on a cycle of fear and relief (trigger → anxiety → compulsion → temporary relief). ERP breaks this cycle by teaching your brain that you can handle discomfort without needing the compulsion. ERP can be challenging because it asks you to face what scares you, but it’s highly effective in helping people gain control over their fears and regain their freedom. Think of it like training your brain to be less reactive to false alarms.