LaKeshia Stewart

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

My experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) began during my time in adolescent mental health behavioral inpatient settings, where I worked with individuals facing some of their most difficult moments. In this environment, I witnessed how CBT could be a lifeline, particularly for adolescents struggling to navigate the complex intersection of emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges. What resonated with me most was CBT’s ability to help young people not only understand their thought patterns but also build the skills to regulate their emotions in real-time. While my formal training as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner has laid the groundwork for applying CBT in outpatient settings, my experience in inpatient care has sharpened my perspective on crisis management. In those high-intensity environments, I saw firsthand how CBT could be adapted to meet a range of immediate emotional needs, whether through helping an adolescent reframe anxious thoughts about their future or guiding someone through distorted beliefs that exacerbated feelings of isolation. As I establish my private practice, I plan to leverage this experience by incorporating CBT in a way that feels actionable and deeply personalized for each client. I’ve seen how practical, skills-based interventions can resonate with individuals, especially in moments of acute distress. My goal is to integrate those insights from my inpatient experience into outpatient care, making CBT not just a theoretical framework, but a practical tool that clients can use to navigate daily life. In short, my approach to CBT is informed by a dual focus: the academic rigor I gained during my nurse practitioner training and the lived experience of applying these principles in crisis-oriented, inpatient settings. This blend of knowledge and real-world application allows me to tailor CBT to the unique needs of each individual in my practice.

Compassion Focused

As a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and a mother of multiples, I have a deep understanding of the complexities people face in managing stress, balancing responsibilities, and navigating emotional challenges. My experience as a mom gives me a unique perspective on the importance of compassion in care—especially in recognizing how diverse life experiences shape each individual’s mental health journey. Juggling the demands of motherhood while balancing my career has taught me to approach each person with patience, empathy, and a genuine desire to understand their challenges from a holistic perspective. Having worked in adolescent mental health inpatient settings and viewing people through a global lens, I recognize that compassion is not a one-size-fits-all concept. I am mindful that clients come from varied cultural backgrounds and life circumstances, and their experiences with mental health may be shaped by factors such as family dynamics, cultural expectations, and societal pressures. Providing compassion-focused care means being attuned to these differences and tailoring my approach to meet each client's unique needs. I strive to create an environment where my clients feel safe and empowered, and where their lived experiences are respected and valued. In my practice, compassion means listening deeply and offering support that acknowledges both the immediate emotional needs and the broader context of a person’s life. I aim to help clients cultivate self-compassion, especially in moments when they feel overwhelmed or disconnected. As I draw from my experience as a mother and my global perspective, I see my role not only as a clinician but as someone who walks alongside my clients, helping them discover the tools within themselves to heal and grow.

Trauma Informed Care

I also understand the importance of flexibility and patience in addressing complex emotional needs. I approach each client with the same care and attention I give my own children—acknowledging their unique struggles, validating their feelings, and supporting their resilience. Whether it’s a client who has experienced childhood trauma, cultural displacement, or family-related stressors, I aim to offer care that recognizes the full spectrum of their experiences and honors their resilience. By viewing people through a global lens, I bring a culturally sensitive approach to trauma-informed care, recognizing that trauma and healing can be influenced by cultural contexts, family dynamics, and societal pressures. I work collaboratively with my clients, respecting their autonomy and helping them develop tools to navigate their healing in a way that aligns with their values and needs.