Shay Wilkinson, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, specializes in evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, post-divorce recovery, post-breakup healing, and life transitions. Shay employs a personalized clinical approach to address each client’s unique emotional and psychological challenges. By focusing on resilience and overall well-being, Shay provides comprehensive support to help clients navigate and overcome difficulties, guiding them through transformative periods with tailored and effective strategies.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
You will likely feel a sense of emotional relief after expressing and processing your feelings in a safe, non-judgmental environment. This can help lighten the emotional burden and provide a clearer perspective on your situation. Enhanced Self-Awareness Our sessions will foster a deeper understanding of your emotions, thought patterns, and behaviors. This enhanced self-awareness can empower you to make healthier choices and respond more effectively to stressors.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My greatest strengths in working with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for patients suffering from depression, anxiety, grief, and the end of a relationship include a deep understanding of CBT principles and an empathetic, client-centered approach. For depression and anxiety, I excel in helping clients identify and challenge negative thought patterns, fostering healthier thinking and behavior. My ability to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment allows clients to feel safe as they explore
About Shay Wilkinson
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In my experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I’ve found it to be an effective treatment method for addressing various mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. I use CBT to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In practice, I start with an initial assessment to identify problematic thought patterns and behaviors. Together with the client, we set clear, achievable goals. Throughout the sessions, I teach clients how to challenge and reframe negative thoughts, develop healthier behaviors, and implement coping strategies. By doing so, clients learn to manage their symptoms more effectively and improve their overall well-being.
Attachment-based
I have 10 years of experience utilizing attachment-based therapy, a framework that explores how early relationships with caregivers influence our emotional and relational patterns throughout life. In my practice, I focus on helping clients understand the root of their emotional difficulties, often tied to attachment styles developed in childhood. By addressing these underlying issues, I help clients build healthier, more secure connections in their relationships and within themselves. Attachment-based therapy is particularly effective in addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. For example, when working with clients struggling with depression or anxiety, we explore how early attachment patterns may contribute to feelings of insecurity or emotional isolation. Together, we work on developing strategies to foster healthier attachments and build stronger emotional resilience. Additionally, I use attachment theory to help individuals navigating life transitions, such as post-divorce or post-breakup recovery. These experiences often trigger attachment wounds, and by understanding how past relationships shaped their attachment styles, clients can learn to form healthier bonds in the future and find greater emotional stability. In grief counseling, attachment-based therapy offers a compassionate approach to understanding the profound sense of loss clients feel. It helps them explore the bonds they had with loved ones, allowing for a deeper healing process.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is another approach I use in my practice, particularly when working with clients who have experienced trauma or struggle with PTSD. This evidence-based treatment focuses on helping clients identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns related to their traumatic experiences. The goal of CPT is to help clients process their trauma in a way that reduces its emotional impact and allows them to move forward. In therapy, I guide clients through recognizing how their trauma has affected their thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. By addressing these cognitive distortions, such as feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame, we work together to reshape those thoughts into more balanced and helpful ones. This process not only reduces the emotional burden of the trauma but also empowers clients to regain control over their lives. CPT is highly effective for individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, and other symptoms related to trauma. It provides a structured yet compassionate framework for healing, helping clients break free from the negative cycles of thought that often accompany traumatic experiences. Through this approach, clients learn to redefine their narratives, fostering resilience and a sense of empowerment.
Trauma-Focused CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Trauma (CBT-T) is an evidence-based approach I use to help clients address the emotional and psychological impact of traumatic experiences. CBT-T focuses on identifying and modifying negative thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that stem from trauma. In therapy, I work with clients to explore how these thought patterns influence their emotional well-being and guide them in developing healthier, more adaptive ways of coping with their trauma. This method helps individuals process their experiences in a structured, supportive environment, leading to reduced symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Through CBT-T, clients learn to challenge the harmful beliefs that keep them feeling stuck, such as excessive guilt or feelings of helplessness. The therapy empowers them to regain a sense of control over their lives by building resilience and self-awareness. CBT-T is highly effective for clients who are looking for a practical, hands-on approach to managing the emotional and psychological scars of trauma.