Therapy is about opportunities and possibilities. Opportunities and possibilities are done with exploration, discovery, and destinations. I am the guide helping someone realize those opportunities and possibilities as I support the individual through their own exploration, discovery and destinations. This is done with a focus on the individual and not the theories. I am not a “one technique fits all” type of practitioner. I am someone who uses creativity and flexibility to help connect with the individual. Therapy is about the relationship with the individual. Without a healthy therapeutic relationship, the goals the individual wants to achieve in therapy will not be obtained. Therapy is about you, not theories. Those who I support life problems of all shapes, sizes and descriptions. I do the typical MH disorders and symptoms but my focus supporting others goes way beyond the typical. What problems that aren’t diagnosable, that are not symptomatic however painful, nevertheless. Therapy is about opportunities and possibilities. Opportunities and possibilities are done with exploration, discovery, and destinations. I am the guide helping someone realize those opportunities and possibilities as I support the individual through their own exploration, discovery and destinations. This is done with a focus on the individual and not the theories. I am not a “one technique fits all” type of practitioner. I am someone who uses creativity and flexibility to help connect with the individual. Therapy is about the relationship with the individual. Without a healthy therapeutic relationship, the goals the individual wants to achieve in therapy will not be obtained. Therapy is about you, not theories.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I frame the first session and the next few sessions (if someone chooses to continue see me. Nothing is guaranteed, it is all about the person's right to choose) similarly as the focus is on the natural anxiety for the individual to be in therapy with a new therapist. Whether the person is a first time or a veteran of therapy, the relationship is still new. Any new relationship creates a tension, a situation of unknowns. The first session in particular is allowing the individual to become comfortable with the process with me. I discuss how the first session is not about "deep diving" questions, the expectation is not for the individual to dump all their thoughts in the session (unless that would create comfort for the person). I have a set of "first session questions", simple pain free as possible queries for the person. They focus on getting to know the person as a person (likes, dislikes and favorites of things) then moving to general stuff about what brings them to see a therapist and gently asking what that looks like (what stressors and problems are you experiencing at this time). That's the guide I use, however each session with a new individual is different. Sometimes a person wants to state what's on their mind or a follow up to one of the questions lead to gathering information in a different topic from the first session questions. I adapt to each individual; no first session will be the same for everyone. The goal for the first session is creating a safe and secure space for the individual with the person being curious enough to want to see how I can further support them in future sessions.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I think the greatest skill I have as a therapist is my flexibility and adaptability. This strength allows me to explore an expanded idea of not only what therapy is but what can be accomplished in therapy. Because of this I can see how to support the client the best way with their strengths and needs at that moment. People have an image or an idea what therapy is, but therapy is about anything and everything. It’s not only about problems symptoms or trauma. Therapy is a tool used to connect a person to be able to share themselves their story their narrative. Therapy is what someone wants it to be. Therapy is seeing alternatives to emotions and beliefs, solutions and resolutions that didn’t seem to exist before. Therapy is increasing your awareness of what your story is. Not just the story you know of yourself now but the one that exists along with the one you’re lived and learned. This story, this narrative is the one that is explored in therapy to be discovered. Therapy is about discovery. That narrative is discovered through casual conversation with a purpose. It is building a relationship which consists of comfort and trust. With comfort and trust, someone not only shares but changes. Someone with comfort and trust allows changes to be tried, to be done and successfully attempt at achieving that change. That change is guided by goals, with the therapist who is the guide not the expert. You are the expert of your story, your narrative, your life. What I do as a therapist is to support your exploration and discovery of changes you want and those you will achieve. Therapy is about exploration. Of current ideas, beliefs and thoughts. Of emotions we experience and acknowledge of having as well as those we are not aware of and experience. Therapy is one part discovering these emotions in us and one part understanding why those when how and why. I’m a guide not an expert. The expert is you of your life, your narrative. I help someone frame and reframe their story. This is done with a focus on words they use, understanding their meanings and presenting newer more beneficial meanings. The focus in therapy is on decision making, belief creation and problem solving all intertwine with emotions along with responses to our emotions. Creative flexible therapy, this is my goal when supporting someone in therapy. Therapy is about you not theories.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I never intended to be a social worker; instead, social work found me unexpectedly. Prior to this realization, I was on track to become a tax accountant and later found himself navigating the insurance industry as an underwriter, albeit reluctantly. However, my journey took a significant turn when I earned an undergraduate degree in psychology, leading me to embark on a career in behavioral health 21 years ago. Starting as a behavior technician assisting intellectually disabled adults in group homes, my original aspirations of becoming a psychologist shifted when he was introduced to the field of social work. After completing my Master of Social Work (MSW) at Rutgers-Camden, I delved into post-graduate work, initially at a women's shelter, aiding survivors of domestic violence. My professional path then led me to family therapy in Philadelphia, where I honed my skills as a structural family therapist, conducting sessions directly within families' homes multiple times per week. Transitioning to work in psychiatric community homes, I immersed myself in the care of children aged 5-18 across three different group homes, fostering a deep affinity for working with youth. Although I cherished my time in the group homes, my experience in Philadelphia held a special place in his heart. While my focus has shifted towards adult outpatient care working at a community mental health center, I continue to hold a passion for working with children and adolescents in my private practice. My experience has led me to meet many different types of individuals, with varying challenges. I believe I best served all of them, the diverse populations I did serve was to always understanding it is meeting the person where they are. To be able to attend, listen and learn about them. The therapy begins and continues when all this occurs and this is how I intend to support individuals I will see on Grow.