LCSW, 11 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello, Please know that I believe in creating a safe and non-judgmental environment for you where you will find your voice and tell your story, for which you are the expert. Thank you for sharing information about yourself. I'm delighted that you've reached out for help. I am Dr. P. Myria Bailey Whitcomb. I hold an LCSW license from the state of Pennsylvania, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling. I have 10 years of experience in the field, holding a diverse range of positions, including Hospice and grief. I strive to be a well-rounded practitioner who can meet the needs of my clients to live a holistic life of wellness and gratitude.
You can expect me to be direct, truthful, goal-oriented, human-focused, accepting, engaging, good listener, non-judgmental, and empowering. I will also provide other therapeutic avenues to help you achieve wellness through the expression of your laughter, gifts, and passions. I am a life and business strategist who is empathetic and empowering. Most importantly, I believe there can be joy and hope and healing goals to help you to manage your symptoms, build a clearer self-identity, and navigate stress that includes trauma. Please know that I believe in creating a safe and non-judgmental environment for you where you will find your voice and tell your story, for which you are the expert.
I am realistic, thoughtful, kind, and down-to-earth therapist. I believe people are looking for ways out of a complex mind, life, relationship, and sense of self. I will go where you need me to go to attain and find your strengths, self-esteem, self-regard, and help you challenge the hard places in your life. I want to do everything that I possibly can to teach you how to develop your path, to know you have choices, to validate that you have fears, stressors, complicated relationships, and unhealthy thoughts. Please let me be the first to encourage you to walk this hard journey of self-discovery, where at the end is healing and hope. I will learn about you and not criticize you or leave you stranded in your emotions, and what I call 'stinking thinking." I will stand by you, because nobody has the right to harm you or abuse you, or take away your inner power. We will work on restoring and shaping your belief systems and values so that you can learn to be your authentic self. I serve the unique needs of Black women and generational trauma. However, I will not mislead you into believing that there are any quick fixes to your issues, but I can promise that if you look for them, you will discover small victories that are worth celebrating!
As a therapist, I also specialize in working with Black and Multicultural groups: youth, women, men, and seniors. People come from diverse backgrounds, with varying economic and social statuses, experiences, and educational levels with more shared beliefs than disagreements. However, I advocate for individuals to live in communities of safety, with access to mental health and health access, as well as the freedom to dream and be. I found that these needs supersede racial, cultural, ethnic, socioeconomical, status, and zip codes, and locations in life. Studies show everyone should have mental health care, without barriers misrepresentation, or disparities. I serve all: Individuals, young adults, couples, blended families. My passion is to help others build themselves, build relationships, and ensure that seniors have access to mental health services that are stellar. Mental health should be attainable to all and not a privilege. I am a practitioner who deals with the reality of each individual regardless of ethnicity, I am trained in several clinical theories. I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Culturally Sensitive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as well as the Integration of theological and psychotherapeutic approaches for individuals seeking a spiritual perspective on healing, including pastors, believers, members, and others.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you change negative thinking patterns into positive ones, allowing you to problem-solve and make better decisions that lead to more positive outcomes.
The integration of theology and psychotherapy allows you to receive treatment in a more holistic way by embracing your spiritual beliefs, challenges, and growth.
I believe in the value of Couples counseling, and the braveness of two people to want to save their marriage by developing essential skillsets, such as effective communication, and tackling the challenging areas in their lives. At times, marriages require a neutral party to actively listen to both sides without judgment or taking sides, but with compassion and truth.
The only way to know someone's story is if they share it with you. Cultural sensitivity requires that I, as a therapist, whose life's work has been to advocate for social, environmental, and economic justice for equity, inclusion, and accessibility to mental health for all people. There is no place in my practice for unconscious or implicit biases, negative preconceptions, stereotypes, microaggressions, and supplication. Cultural sensitivity means emerging in your story, learning your voice, and your experience, as we learn to connect on a genuine level, free from racism, sexism, ageism, socioeconomic status, skin color, accent, and the exclusion of difference.
I help you through a series of sessions learn behavioral and cognitive strategies to help you. Gaining emotional, cognitive, self-acceptance, social and behavioral control is a path to wellness and a better quality of life.