(he/him)
New to Grow
Hi, I’m Philip Bower, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, and I work with adults who are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, worn down, or just not quite like themselves. Many of the clients I see are dealing with anxiety, trauma, grief, burnout, self-esteem struggles, identity stress, or major life changes that have left them feeling untethered. Sometimes people come to therapy knowing exactly what they want to work on, and sometimes they just know that something has to shift. Both are welcome here. My style is warm, affirming, and down to earth. I want therapy to feel like a place where you can show up honestly, take a breath, and not have to keep holding everything together by yourself for an hour. I believe good therapy is built on trust, respect, and collaboration. You are the expert on your life, and my role is to help you better understand what you’re carrying, develop tools that actually help, and move toward meaningful change in a way that feels realistic and sustainable. I use evidence-based approaches like CBT, ACT, DBT-informed skills, mindfulness-based therapy, and trauma-informed care, but I do not believe in forcing people into a rigid formula. I try to meet each client where they are and tailor the work to what they need most. Some clients want practical coping strategies right away. Others need space to process, reflect, and reconnect with themselves. Most people need a little of both. I am especially committed to offering an affirming space for LGBTQIA+ clients and for adults who want therapy to feel genuine, grounded, and human. Whether you are new to therapy or coming back after some time away, I hope to offer a space where you feel seen, supported, and able to move toward a life that feels more like your own.
Our first session is really about getting oriented together. It is a chance for me to learn more about what is bringing you to therapy, what has been feeling hard lately, and what you hope might be different in your life as a result of this process. It is also a chance for you to get a feel for me, my style, and whether working together feels like a good fit. You do not need to come into the first session with everything organized or perfectly explained. A lot of people worry that they will not know what to say, or that they need to have a clear plan before they begin. That is not the case. Some clients come in with a very specific concern, while others just know they feel overwhelmed, stuck, disconnected, or tired of carrying everything alone. We can start wherever you are. In that first meeting, I will likely ask questions about what is happening now, how long it has been going on, what you have already tried, and what kind of support has or has not been helpful in the past. We may also touch on important background information, including relationships, stressors, mental health history, or major life experiences that feel connected to what you are dealing with. The goal is not to rush through your whole life story in one sitting. The goal is to begin understanding the bigger picture and what feels most important for us to focus on first. I also use the first session to start building a sense of safety and connection. Therapy works best when you feel respected, understood, and able to be honest without feeling judged or pushed too fast. I want you to know that you are allowed to take your time here. We will move at a pace that feels thoughtful and manageable. By the end of the first session, my hope is that you leave with a clearer sense of what working together might look like, what areas we may focus on, and whether I feel like the right therapist for you. In many cases, we will begin identifying goals and talking about what healing, growth, or relief would actually look like in your day-to-day life. Most of all, I want the first session to feel like the beginning of a real conversation, not an interrogation. You do not have to perform, have the perfect words, or be in crisis for therapy to be worthwhile. You just have to show up as you are, and we can begin there.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to create a space where clients feel genuinely safe, respected, and able to be honest. Many people come into therapy used to minimizing what they feel, taking care of everyone else first, or trying to appear “fine” even when they are struggling. I work hard to create an environment where you do not have to perform, explain yourself perfectly, or carry everything alone. I want therapy to feel steady, human, and grounded from the very beginning. Another strength I bring is the balance between warmth and structure. I am compassionate and relational, but I also want our work to lead somewhere meaningful. I help clients not only process what they are going through, but also build insight, practical coping skills, and new ways of responding to stress, emotions, relationships, and self-talk. My approach is thoughtful and tailored, drawing from evidence-based methods like CBT, ACT, DBT-informed skills, mindfulness-based therapy, and trauma-informed care in a way that fits the person rather than forcing the person to fit the method. Clients often tell me they appreciate that I am both affirming and direct. I can sit with pain, complexity, and vulnerability, while also helping clients notice patterns, make connections, and move toward change. I especially value working with people who may feel overwhelmed, emotionally worn down, disconnected from themselves, or uncertain about how to move forward. I aim to help clients feel more grounded, more self-aware, and more able to live in a way that feels authentic to who they are. I am also deeply committed to offering an affirming space for LGBTQIA+ clients and for adults who want therapy to feel sincere, collaborative, and respectful of their lived experience. At the heart of my work is the belief that healing is not about becoming someone else. It is about coming home to yourself with greater clarity, compassion, and strength.
I work especially well with adults who feel overwhelmed, emotionally worn down, stuck in painful patterns, or disconnected from themselves. Many of the people I serve are living with anxiety, trauma, grief, identity stress, burnout, or life changes that have left them feeling uncertain about how to move forward. I am especially affirming of LGBTQIA+ clients and men who want therapy to feel genuine, grounded, and respectful. My ideal client does not need to arrive with perfect words or a perfect plan, only a desire for support, greater understanding, and meaningful change.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use ACT to help clients make room for difficult thoughts and feelings without losing sight of who they are and what matters to them. In my practice, I use this approach to support clients in building psychological flexibility, reconnecting with their values, and moving toward a life that feels more intentional and authentic. ACT is especially meaningful in work around anxiety, grief, trauma, identity, and major life transitions.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help clients understand how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors work together, especially when old patterns begin to keep them feeling stuck. In my practice, I use CBT to help people challenge unhelpful thinking, respond to themselves with more clarity and compassion, and build tools that support real change. It is especially helpful for anxiety, depression, stress, and self-esteem concerns because it gives clients practical strategies they can carry into daily life.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use DBT-informed interventions to help clients build skills in emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and communication. In my practice, I often use these tools with clients who feel emotionally overloaded, reactive, or exhausted by patterns that affect their relationships and inner sense of stability. I appreciate DBT because it offers grounded, actionable support while still honoring the deeper emotional work of therapy.
Trauma Informed Care
My practice is rooted in trauma-informed care, meaning I approach each client with care for safety, choice, collaboration, and pacing. I use this framework to understand how past wounds and ongoing stress can shape the way a person feels, copes, connects, and moves through the world. In practice, this means creating a space that feels respectful, steady, and empowering, so healing can happen without clients feeling rushed, dismissed, or overwhelmed.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I use mindfulness-based therapy to help clients reconnect with themselves in a more grounded, present, and compassionate way. In my practice, this means helping people notice what is happening internally, including thoughts, emotions, and body-based stress, without feeling consumed by it. I often weave mindfulness into therapy for anxiety, trauma, grief, and burnout because it can create space for reflection, regulation, and a deeper sense of connection to one’s own inner life.