Welcome and congratulations for taking those first steps towards therapy. I know how intimidating it can be and I am so proud of you! My name is Mary and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Virginia. I am a rural Virginia native who has transplanted into the hustle and bustle of the city and is loving every minute of it. I have been practicing as a therapist for about 3 years with the majority of my experience being with adolescents and young adults. I love getting to know each client I serve and helping them navigate through different chapters of their life, whether that be past or present. work with my clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment. It takes courage to seek out a more fulfilling and happier life and to take the first steps towards a change. I am here to support & empower you in that journey. I am so glad you're here and am looking forward to working with you!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Don't be intimidated for the first session- I like to try to make it as fun and relaxed as possible. Get in your comfy pants or your favorite chair and prepare to cringe at my corny jokes. The first session is my chance to get to know you, your strengths, your hobbies, your goals, and what brings you to therapy. It's also your chance to get to know me, ask any questions, and decide if this is the right fit for you. I understand that successful therapy begins with the relationship you're able to build with your therapist and helping you to feel safe and validated is my top priority. As we are getting to know each other I will be working with you to identify goals and create a treatment plan to guide us moving forward.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
While sometimes I imagine myself as your own personal cheerleader, I feel as though my main strengths as a provider are helping my clients to find and build off of their own strengths. We all bring so many wonderful qualities to the table, but they can get lost in the mess of life. In order for healing and growth to take place, it is important to identify what we already have within ourselves and build off of it. I also pride myself in creating a warm and safe environment where my clients feel heard.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
The majority of my professional career has been spent working with adolescents and young adults in various stages of their lives with various struggles. For teenagers, I understand just how important it is to feel heard and have a safe space to process without judgement or comparison. As a younger adult myself, I can also understand and relate to the challenges that adulthood throws at you when you least expect it. At the end of the day, regardless of your age, if you are looking to make a change and grow, I am here and happy to help in any way that I can.
About Mary Callender
Mary Callender offers therapy covered by Kaiser Permanente - Medicaid and UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicaid in Virginia.
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is such a great way to learn about how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected. I like to use it to assist my clients with anxiety, anger, and even depression symptoms. CBT helps you to identify those intrusive thoughts and cognitive distortions and learn tricks and different ways to challenge them.
Motivational Interviewing
In order to make a change, someone has to have some level of motivation. I like to utilize motivational interviewing techniques to help build that desire and help my clients create a true plan for change.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a great tool to help clients with many different diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, and more. DBT includes tools for mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal affectiveness. I like to utilize it to help clients learn to be present in the moment, honor their feelings, and cope with them in a healthy manner.
Narrative
I have been utilizing Narrative Therapy techniques for the past three years to help a wide range of clients work through and make meaning of difficult times and even traumatic events in your life. Narrative therapy incorporates both your values and strengths with the idea of owning "your story." This method has been very successful in helping my clients make meaning out of different situations and find value in their experiences.