LCSW, 5 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi! My name is Maisie Jacquez and I am an LCSW with 6 years experience working in both New Mexico and California. I have experience working with culturally diverse, high risk populations in rural areas. With little resources as a therapist, you learn to navigate a wide range of issues in your client population. I have been trained to meet client's needs within that population. Moving from that rural area to California as a military spouse has subjected me to a different population wo work with. So, whether it is navigating grief, complex trauma, depression, anxiety, work stressors, or major life transitions, I am passionate about helping. My goal is to make my clients as comfortable and safe as possible while healing things that tend to compromise every day functioning. I value my therapuetic relationship with my clients and always want them to feel heard and valued. When my clients are discharged it is always with the intention of knowing I have helped to provide them with the tools they need to navigate life's obstacles in the best way possible. I always want them to feel as though they have learned or gained something from our sessions. My favorite part in my line of work is meeting new people from all different walks of life and learning how their unique characteristics can become their strongest assets.
The first session with me usually always entails a Biopsychosocial intake assessment. This is a good way for me to learn about your history with mental health, your family, your trauma, etc. I prefer to familiarize myself with where you have been, where you are headed, and how I can help most. This also helps me to assess what coping skills you have and where we can expand or develop more while also building that therapuetic rapport. This information from this session is used to formulate a treatment plan. I like to include my clients in the treatment planning process so they can help me to identify what their goals and objectives are in starting therapy.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist tends to be the life experience I have as well. I try to lead with authenticity and empathy, while also being as honest and straight-forward as possible. I try to show up in session with the intention of my client knowing I am human too and they are not alone in having someone who understands them and supports them. Many therapists are trained in the methods I use, but not as many are trained in Brainspotting. I feel it is an asset as a therapist to have this training that can be life changing for clients. It is always a huge accomplishment to get a client to the point in which they no longer need therapy and that is always the result I aim for. But I am also willing to be patient while the client works at a pace they are comfortable with to achieve desired results.
I am best positioned to serve clients struggling with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Although, I am equipped with training to expand on that having worked with children, couples, and susbstance abuse in the past as well. I find myself working with client's who have complex trauma or are trying to navigate grief very often because of my background in EMDR and Brainspotting. My ideal client has a solution-focused mindset and is willing to do the work to change their circumstances when given the opportunity. I truly value being able to build a healthy rapport with my client and make that a top priority. It is usually even included in my treatment plans. I know that having the trust of every client I encounter can take time, but it is something I aim for so I am able to provide a place in which they feel safe and can be honest about anything going on in their life. Having goals and a treatment plan we can revisit and be held accountable for completing is important to me as well. Not only do I want my clients to have a safe place to verbally/emotionally process things, I want them to learn something also. As a therapist, I do my best to be compassionate while also very honest and forthcoming. If there is something a client does not like about my approach I am always willing and open to some constructive criticism to better meet the client's needs and make myself a better therapist. There is always something new for me to learn as well.
I like to incorporate CBT in to treatment by examining where negative or anxious thoughts are coming from and what we need to do to change them. These thoughts can often lead us to having anxiety attacks or feeling hopeless and unmotivated. CBT gives us the oppurtunity to identify and challenge these thoughts with learned tools to help the client respond in a more effective way and improve overall daily functioning. I have been incorporating this method with clients since I first began my work in mental health and continue to apply it in almost evert treatment plan because of its effectiveness.
Brainspotting is a brain-based therapy that helps you process and release deep emotional pain, trauma, or blocks — even ones you may not fully be aware of. The idea is that where you look affects how you feel. When your eyes focus on a specific spot, it can access a part of the brain where certain emotional experiences or memories are stored. I enjoy utilizing this method with clients since I was trained in BSP last year. It is a great way to heal unresolved trauma, reduce distress, and enhance overall performance.
I was trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing approx. 4 years ago. Since then, I have seen the effectiveness of adding bilateral stimulation to help process trauma in clients with very complex trauma. I love seeing the before and after differences in a client when they are finally able to release something they have held on to for so long. I am able to utilize an online program called Cloud EMDR that provides the needed tools for the client with this method.
I utilize motivation interviewing with clients to learn their story and build rapport. This form of conversation can help to empower a client and strengthen their motivation for themselves to make changes that matter to them. Together, we can look at what is getting in the way of their goals and how we can approach reaching them in a way that feels right for them.
My approach with person-centered therapy is that the client is the "master of their own life". I try my best to meet them where they are at with the goals they would like to accomplish. This should allow clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and emotions in a safe space where they feel understood and valued. My experience is that person-centered therapy can help build confidence in clients and help us find a solution to their problem. This is a modality I have commonly incorporated in sessions my entire career and truly find value in.