Licensed to practice in Kentucky and accepts 20 insurances. Specializes in Addiction, Depression, Trauma and PTSD and 10 more.

Clayton Vertrees

(he/him)

LCSW, 9 years of experience
Intelligent
Authentic
VirtualAvailable

As a therapist, I see my role as someone who helps people become their most genuine self. I try to create a space where people feel comfortable to wrestle with those parts of their life which they don't know what to do with, but feel especially difficult right now. My background as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor (LCADC) helps give me the knowledge I need to work with the whole person. That said, before anything else, I like to take time to learn how your mental health impacts your day-to-day life, and what goals you would have for our time together.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

In our first session, my main goal is to learn more about you as a person. I want to understand what matters most to you, what your life looks like today, and what brought you to therapy.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

Whenever I start working with a new client, I embrace the reality that we're starting from scratch. I don't know anything about them as a person, and they've never met me. So, I begin with a sense of curiosity and humility. As I continue meeting with someone, I try to encourage them to be present with what they are feeling in the moment, and not judge themselves for any thoughts or emotions which might come up and take them by surprise. Therapy can feel scary sometimes. And that's okay. But I think being compassionate to yourself can definitely help. I also don't shy away from laughter during sessions. Because even during a heavier session, we still might stumble across the absurd -- and I think it's healthy to acknowledge that.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I expect my ideal client would probably start their first session by sharing that they weren't sure therapy was even for them. It takes a certain level of honesty and strength to share something like that in your first session. Some of my favorite moments in therapy happen when the person I'm working with realizes that they're not crazy, but a belief they had about themselves or the world around them came from something they went through in the past. I also like when clients cuss in our sessions. That tells me they're so focused on digging down deep to do the work of therapy that they forgot to censor themselves.

Specialties

Top specialties

Other specialties

Anger Management

Anxiety

Grief

Military/Veterans

Self Esteem

Spirituality

I identify as

Man

Serves ages

Licensed in

Location

Virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I use CBT to help people think about and respond to the world around them in ways which more truly reflect their own, personal values.

EMDR

I use EMDR to help people heal from past traumatic experiences and adopt new ways of seeing themselves which let them get the most out of life.

Motivational Interviewing

I use motivational interviewing to help people connect with what matters to them on the deepest levels, and use that as fuel to make meaningful changes in their lives.

, 1 ratings
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