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Norlan McKenzie, LCSW - Florida Therapist at Grow Therapy

Norlan McKenzie

Norlan McKenzie

(she/her)

LCSW
10 years of experience
Virtual

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with British Caribbean roots and from the tail end of the baby boomer generation, I have come to acknowledge the roller-coaster ride that life offers with numerous highs, lows, and constant cycles of new beginnings and closures. My career in the mental health profession began to take shape in 2012, which led me to secure a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Clinical Social Work from the esteemed University of South Florida. Since 2014, my focus has been on supporting children and families in Florida. The unprecedented emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted our social lives drastically, prompting an increased need for virtual counseling. However, I managed to adapt to this change in my practice, thus registering continuous growth in the Telehealth space from then onward. My practice now serves the wider population. 

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session, I will meet you where you're at. We will talk about whatever you're bringing to the table and begin identifying what it is you expect and want to achieve as a result of our therapeutic relationship. Your identified and achievable goals will help me to begin formulating a treatment plan for you, which we will review and sign off on together.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

Besides my education and passion for continuous learning, my personal experience in my profession says a lot, enhancing my utilization of self in the therapeutic relationship. Also, I place high importance on cultural competency and have gained significant exposure by traveling widely and immersing myself in diverse cultures.

About Norlan McKenzie

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Appointments

Free consults, virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I find CBT to be one of the most effective approaches in my practice for treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and self-esteem. Clients are engaged in identifying and processing their core beliefs and thought patterns impacting their feelings and behaviors. The therapeutic relationship seeks strategies to reconstruct negative thinking and increase positive thoughts and behaviors. Clients are encouraged to practice the identified strategies between sessions.

Dialectical Behavior (DBT)

I use DBT as an intervention to help clients who present with intense emotions. First and foremost, I validate those emotions. Then, I introduce clients to strategies that I have seen help to regulate their emotions, which include mindfulness, grounding techniques, emotional regulation skills, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. Clients are encouraged to practice the strategies daily and in between sessions.

Grief Therapy

I often see clients who are struggling emotionally and finding it difficult to adjust as a result of grieving the loss of someone, something, or some significant change that has happened in their lives or is about to happen (anticipatory grief). Utilizing the Kubler-Ross Model, combined with Cognitive Behavior Therapy, I can effectively help clients through their grieving process. I say "their" because I've seen that grief is different for everyone.

Person-centered (Rogerian)

I am undoubtedly an empathetic and active listener. The Person-centered approach allows clients to explore and speak freely in a safe and non-judgmental space. Clients come into this space primarily for support and guidance. My use of self will validate your emotions, listen, reflect, and present some open-ended questions. Eventually, clients are able to figure out a way forward to their situation or presenting problem.

Psychodynamic

I primarily utilize the Psychodynamic approach to help clients process and understand how their past experiences (usually childhood trauma) may have impacted their present-day behaviors and sense of self. As a result, I have seen clients develop increased self-awareness of their behaviors, thoughts, feelings, insight, and self-esteem.