LPC, 25 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi, I'm Clarissa 'Shawn', and let me start by saying, "Way to go.... you're here and I'm glad to see you made it today." I want to commend you for taking the initiative to begin the therapy process. You've taken the first step towards inner clarity and understanding, which is a path to healthier balance and overall well-being. We all know that pain is unavoidable in life and allowing me the opportunity to walk with you – to help carry that burden in a space of non-judgmental intent and unconditional support – is truly an honor.
In our initial session, I will offer a brief introduction about myself and background qualifications and hope to set a stage for healing and development. And it is very normal for individuals seeking therapy to feel nervous or apprehensive in the first session. This session will consist of getting to know each other, gathering information, treatment expectations and what you're hoping to get from therapy. As a professional counselor, I will discuss certain aspects of therapy which are of importance, such as confidentiality. But all in all, I am wanting to hear your story. During this time, I will be asking certain questions which may surround one's background, childhood and family dynamics along with your mental &/or physical symptoms, history, and duration.
As a licensed professional counselor, I have an extensive history helping clients with anxiety, trauma, severe mental illness, anger, grief, depression, and life challenges. I’m also passionate about empowering my clients to navigate life transitions with equanimity and grace so they can live meaningful and purposeful lives. I believe the therapeutic relationship is as important as the treatment modality of therapy. My therapeutic style is said to be warm, calming, genuine, and compassionate. I'm here to help you create safety in your life, to explore and heal core issues, and to provide support during your progression.
As a skilled therapist, I offer a variety of tools and strategies that are aligned with your specific needs. I have been blessed over the past 20 years as a mental health clinician, with having a natural ability of helping others cope with challenges, traumas, mental illness, and adjustments throughout life. I will strive to help equip you with the skills to understand and manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a new and flexible way.
CBT is based on the premise that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected, and that changing negative thought patterns can lead to changes in feelings and behaviors.
DBT is a type of talk psychotherapy or talk therapy. It’s based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) but is especially adapted for individuals who experience emotions very intensely. It focuses on helping individuals accepting the reality of their lives and their behaviors, as well as helping them learn to change, including unhealthy or unhelpful behaviors.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing focusing on helping individuals heal from symptoms and emotional distress due to disturbing life experiences, including trauma and PTSD. EMDR involves talking about traumatic memories while engaging in side-to-side eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy's uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies along with commitment and behavior-change strategies to increase psychological flexibility. The goal of ACT ("act") is not to avoid difficult feelings or situations but to be present with them and move toward valued behavior. ACT invites people to open up to unpleasant feelings and not overreact to them or avoid situations that cause them.
As a therapist, this approach believes that every person, regardless of their mental health struggles desires and is capable of reaching their full potential. Person-centered can help with several types of mental stressors, such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, PTSD, dementia, and other mood disorders.