Hello and welcome to my page. My name is Lydia Wanjau, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. I'm immigrant and received my first Degree from Nairobi University, Kenya . When I came to the US, I received my MA in Counseling Psychology and later got my License to practice in 2017. I bring to the field of counseling a rich bi-cultural life encounters with unique lived experiences of hope courage and resilience. I have experience working with clients with dual diagnosis, complex trauma, anxiety and depression. I have more that 10 years of experience working with clients with a history of trauma, PTSD and abuse. I'm certified as a trauma therapist with wealth on trauma informed care. The primary reason I got into this field is to help people. I'm here to work with you, help you clarify and provide accurate information and explore options.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Together, I will help you to identify your challenges and set up short and long term goals. The focus, initially will be to share your story, experiences and then define the problem. As you are aware, there no quick fix in overcoming life obstacles. I will not tell you what to do. Instead, I will guide you all the way to change small habits stuck on top of each other. Together I will work with you, to find solutions that can create lasting solutions. The overall goal is to develop self care goals and a new health life style.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Do you feel stuck, defeated, trapped and battle with shame or conflicted in making daily decisions? Did you grow up with adverse life experiences with the absence of a loving adult support? You are not alone. If you are ready to change, you have all the resources to make it happen. I will work with you to understand your inner strengths, learn positive coping skills, your resources and supports. You will learn to cope with a range of emotions, identify things you can change and gain control of your life.
About Lydia Wanjau
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
We have all have experienced depression and anxiety at one stage in our lives. CBT is evidenced based theory which helps reduce depression and anxiety by harnessing the power of your thoughts. I have used CBT in my private practice and other platforms for over 10 years to treat clients and have witnessed change happen. We will use CBT to help you recognize how troubling thoughts negatively affect feelings and behaviors. You will learn the power you have to challenge unhelpful thoughts, test what is real, unreal and adjust your thought patterns. My job is to make you feel better as gain control of life by identifying your triggers, clarifying and correcting negative thoughts patterns.
Humanistic
I draw from Person Centered by focusing on your experiences. I will not tell you what to do. I will create a safe and warm environment where you can expect be accepted, affirm your worth without judgement. Through PT approach, you can expect to learn more about yourself, overcome obstacles and find solutions. You will learn how to cope with a range of emotions, learn positive coping skills as you become a more fully functioning person. I will offer you techniques to reduce ambivalence. Your recovery is your choice.
Trauma Informed Care
I will help you identify trauma symptoms and common reactions after someone has experienced a terrible, stressful event. Providing psycho education on types of PTSD and symptoms helps increase your knowledge base as you learn how to respond and not react. You will learn healthy coping skills to make you feel better and identify what you can change. TIC will help you cope with fears, develop self worth and build trust and confidence. You will learn that the trauma you went through was not your fault. It is possible to heal from and take your power back!
Attachment-based
Do you tend to to cling, shut down or always anxious when things get serious with relationships with others? How to respond to intimacy and connection with others as an adult largely depends how well you were bonded with you primary care givers or what we got or not get from them. I will help you to learn the different attachment styles, from anxious, dismissive, avoidant how it impacts relationship with others. We will create a plan based on evidenced based techniques to help raise self awareness of how to manage shame, reduce the need to please and disrupt the cycle as you gain more control of your life
Multicultural
My rich bi-cultural life encounters and unique lived experiences helps create an inclusive environment and with culturally relevant techniques. Together, I will help you to explore and overcome obstacles regardless of your social, cultural or family system . Our diverse cultural beliefs and diverse backgrounds will be enhanced to bring hope, courage and resilience.
