I am a Licensed Clinician Social Worker in the State of Virginia with over 3 decades of experience working with adults in a variety of settings. I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Counseling and specialize in depression, anxiety, trauma, and anger. I can also address the needs that patients may have who are struggling with a family member dealing with addiction to alcohol or drug use. My focus is on providing my clients an opportunity to develop healthy coping skills that allow them to become empowered to manage their own emotions and feelings and work on a recovery plan that allows them to move on successfully from painful or challenging emotions or experiences. I practice in a part time capacity and sessions are provided Sunday-Thursday 7p-9p and Fridays 4p-6p. I only provide teletherapy based therapy and this allows me to provide therapy in to patients who may be located in any area of the state of Virginia. I enjoy the telehealth platform and the flexibility it allows for me to help a wide variety of patients. I currently am located near Harrisonburg VA.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session I will be interested in your perspective on the issue or issues you wish to address. I will obtain a social and family history, medical history, past behavioral health history and any other information that you might feel is helpful to know about the issue or issues you are wanting to address. I primarily utilize the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach in my practice, and I will review how we might use this approach to improve your situation and how it works. I will normally provide some handouts after the first visit that can help you understand the concepts I utilize in my approach using CBT.
The treatment methods and tools I utilize
Many of my patients may be dealing with challenges around insomnia in various forms and I utilize CBT strategies to address good sleep habits that improve sleep and quality of sleep without the use of medication when possible. In CBT I identify the concept of Self Talk and how that impacts how we feel about ourselves and our abilities to overcome challenges or stressors. I work with each patient to address any individual challenges with self talk when it is negative and how to intentionally interrupt such thinking about ones self. I work with the patient to reframe negative self talk into more positive and self confident self talk. Rumination is also a negative thinking pattern that many experience and is addressed with a similar strategy.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I enjoy working on the Telehealth platform setting and being able to work with a wide variety of patients and being able to help them feel better and better to manage future stressors with the tools I am able to provide during therapy. I enjoy providing therapy that empowers and strengthens my patients ability to manage stress and stressful situations and improves the quality of their lives and relationships with the people in their lives.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work well with patients who may be struggling with: Relationship issues Depression and anxiety, Coping with past trauma, Occupational stressors, Improving communication skills and concerns about social anxiety, Panic and Anxiety