Treva Gilliard
As a Licensed Social Worker (LCSW) in New York State, I provide short-term, virtual therapy for adults navigating chronic stress, life transitions, anxiety, and depression. I create a safe, supportive space to help you build practical coping skills and find clarity during challenging times. With a background supporting diverse individuals across multiple settings, my approach is collaborative, solution and goal-oriented, and tailored to your unique needs.
First session
I offer a neurodivergent-friendly and culturally responsive space where you can safely explore your unique experiences. By bringing curiosity, compassion, and a nonjudgmental stance to our work, I focus on learning from you as the expert of your own life.
Strengths
I employ strategies that help clients find their voice; helping them learn effective language and skills to express thoughts and emotions that are difficult to articulate. I am deeply observant, which allows me to quickly identify your unique strengths. Creating a safe space to work collaboratively to formulate steps towards achieving your goals. My approach encourages flexible thinking, the curiosity to consider alternative perspectives, and examine new possibilities that could spark a hopeful pursuit of designing a life that is meaningful to you.
Ideal clients
My ideal client would be someone who is seeking support and guidance with developing goals to manage the stress that comes with life transitions such as , lifestyle dilemmas, faith crisis, grief and loss, ambivalence ("stuck"), and low self-esteem, etc. Having the willingness to learn and develop skills to self-regulate and work collaboratively to develop an action plan for the client to practice in between sessions.
Treatment methods
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Person-centered therapy is a non-directive approach that allows for client lead discussions while the therapist provides unconditional positive regard and a safe space for the client to express themselves in a comfortable setting. Focus: Self-discovery and personal growth. Method: The therapist avoids judgment or giving advice, helping you trust your own inner wisdom.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT is a mindfulness-based approach that focuses on acceptance of present thoughts and emotions. Focus: Identifying personal values and aligning them with goals. Method: One intervention called “thought defusion” is used to encourage alternate perspective-taking that allows for the untangling of rigid thought patterns that can keep a person stuck in unhelpful thought traps and behaviors.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a structured framework that connects how you think, feel, and behave. However, I do not use a manualized approach for employing CBT strategies because a flexible approach is more realistic in session. Focus: Identifying and changing unhelpful or unrealistic thought patterns. Method: You learn to find evidence to test automatic negative thoughts against reality and adapt your thinking to engage in a more solution oriented method of resolving unhelpful patterns.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT is referred to as a “third wave” therapy rooted in CBT designed for emotional dysregulation, using a balanced approach of a rational and emotional mindset conceptualized by a technique called wise mind; using skills such as observing, describing, and participating. Focus: Managing extreme emotions and improving relationships. Method: It teaches four core skill sets: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Doesn't specialize in
- Addiction / Substance Use
- Bipolar Disorder
- Child or Adolescent
- Childhood / Intergenerational Trauma
- Chronic Illness / Medical Issues
- Codependency
- Couples Counseling
- Couples Counseling
- Health/Medical Issues
- High Clinical Acuity
- Learning / School Challenges
- Medication Management
- Military/Veterans
- Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
- Perinatal / Postpartum
- Postpartum
Licensed in
- New YorkLicense 073346