I am Casey Linda Unger, Licensed Professional Counselor. I have been in the mental health field since 1996 and licensed since 2002. My experience ranges from working with the chronically mentally ill in public mental health, private practice, inpatient psychiatric, diagnostics/assessment, crisis intervention, anger management, and employee assistance. My primary approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and the effectiveness it has in pointing out negative thought patterns. Through CBT I can help you see unconscious schemas that are leading you to do what you do, where they came from, how they developed, and ultimately how to become your own therapist reframing and moving forward on your own.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In your first session you can expect to have me ask questions of you so I can understand who you are, where you come from, what has shaped your beliefs and perceptions, and to ultimately plot a course for something better. Most people are nervous and do not know what to expect so what I will say is we will just talk. While I do happen to be licensed, I am human, equal, and not above anyone. I am told that I am very easy to talk to and I will make telephonic or televideo therapy every bit as personal as face to face.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I am extremely empathic and a great listener. I easily pick up on the undercurrents of what is being said vs. not said. I am also very analytical and able to see/put together patterns, diagnoses, and have an excellect ability to "turn on the windshield wipers in the rain" for my clients. As a result of trauma in my own life as well as being a survivor of a disaster, I realize that one event in anyone's lives can reverse the side of the desk they are sitting on. In other words there is that one thing or things that can put the counselor into the position of the client and show our vulnerability as humans. I make it a point to come across as approachable and not superior.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I love working with all individuals but feel that I have a specific skill in understanding people who feel thrown away, bullied, and/or marginalized in society. Historically, I have always done very well with people that no one else seems to be able to help or reach. I developed this skill specifically in my years working with low income and indigent people through public mental health. I did many interventions within their homes and showed them that they mattered. I worked with very depressed and suicidal clients, highly anxious clients, trauma survivors, people with schizophrenia, bipolar, PTSD, OCD, schizoaffective.
About Casey Unger
Specializes in
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Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Human beings think, feel, and then act. It is not what happens to a person but how they frame and interpret it. People tend to usually default to the worst possible and most negative thought. We do not realize this and so this catastrophic thinking can poison our feelings, perceptions, and can dictate a host of bad behaviors and mental distress. In our brains, we tend to be our worst possible critics and convict ourselves to mental torture, addiction, and a host of other problems without realizing it.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP)
I have used this approach ever since I started working in public mental health in 1996. Time and time again I have helped clients counter mental spiraling and to stop the mental snowball that leads to suicidal tendencies, thoughts, behaviors.
Grief Therapy
Over the years I have led my clients through grief by educating them on the stages of grief, setting them up with supports, groups, etc. I have also worked with clients on applying the thought countering cognitive behavioral concepts as well as managing feelings through journaling and many other approaches.
Motivational Interviewing
Throughout my years working in mental health centers and also employment assistance, I have done motivational interviewing. I did diagnostician work determining mental health priority population as well as IQ and personality testing. I have learned how to effectively navigate my way and help the clients start to see a picture and patterns and to in turn see assets they have, goals, and the skills to move in a positive direction.
Trauma-Focused CBT
Over the years I have met with countless survivors of all manner of trauma and I have effectively showed them how to see and stop the mental snowball of panic, anxiety, depression, and self blame that ensues with traumatic memories. I have taught them to do thought tracking, how to see the think, feel, act chain, and to stop thoughts from overwhelming them.