Tiffany Alvey
Hello there! I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). I graduated from Indiana University with my master's degree in mental health counseling in 2008. Since then, I have worked in various areas of the field, including individual therapy, child and family therapy, crisis assessments and admissions, individual therapy, and group therapy.
First session
In our first session together, we will start with an introduction to become more comfortable in general. After that, we will discuss about expectations for therapy and overall reasons for seeking out treatment. It will be a little more information gathering than usual but also collaborative at the same time so that we are on the same page.
Strengths
I enjoy listening to my clients' stories and supporting them in ways that maybe others have not in their lives. My experience includes a wide variety of client struggles and needs. I really try to understand the client as an individual so that I can help them connect the dots that they may not be able to see on their own.
Ideal clients
I love working with adults who have been contemplating change in their lives and just aren't sure where to start or how to go about doing it. They need a safe space where they can process feelings and triggers, engage in healthy goal setting, explore life experiences so they can make connections between their past and present, and learn to be more mindful in their day-to-day.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have been integrating CBT into therapy for the past 8+ years. I also teach CBT skills to clients in a psychoeducational setting around once a week. I find it to be very useful with clients who experience a wide range of concerns including anxiety/rumination, depression, decreased confidence, addiction/recovery stressors, and many others. CBT is a tangible tool to help explore and recognize the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It's been especially useful in helping my clients identify negative thought patterns, explore deeply rooted core beliefs, and recognizing cognitive distortions, all of which can disrupt healthy emotional and behavioral reactions to situations in life. I can collaborate with the individual to challenge these thought patterns to improve life overall.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I often work with clients who are struggling to stay in the moment, often finding themselves "stuck" in the past or jumping so far into the future that it becomes overwhelming. In my experience, mindfulness can be applied to many situations. I've used it to help patients manage stress and anxiety, increase awareness of depression symptoms so that they feel less alone in their journey, and engage in relaxation techniques. We can practice in session or if that's not comfortable, I can give recommendations of practices to try at home.
Motivational Interviewing
I have experience working with individuals who aren't sure what their goals are when they start treatment or sometimes don't even want to be in therapy at first. Therapy is a safe place for people in all stages of change. I understand that some people seek out help without really knowing what their own needs or motivations are at that time. This method can help me not only understand my client's perspective and aid in increasing motivation for change but also help them explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgement when maybe they haven't had a chance in the past.
Psychoeducation
I have often integrated the use of educational materials both on a scheduled basis and on an as-needed basis. My goal is to ensure the client has the opportunity to have multiple ways to seek out the information they may need in their own treatment. We can review it together and explore ways to apply it to daily life outside of therapy sessions. I am a big fan of assignments or goals between appointments so that the growth can happen at any time, not just when in the therapy session.
Strength-Based
I really enjoy helping my clients identify their strengths (everyone has them!) and use them to their benefit in both their therapy goals and in life in general. I will often point out strength-based characteristics or qualities that I notice in the moment about my clients because I know it's hard for people to see where they excel sometimes, especially with depression or anxiety lying to them.
Location
Virtual sessions