I am a clinical social worker who provides individual therapy for adults. Over the course of my 20 plus year career, I have worked in various settings with a variety of client populations. As a therapist my role is to provide a non-judgmental, safe environment for individuals to explore their life issues and support them in their personal growth. I find that a lot of us struggle with listening to our inner critic and often beat ourselves up for past regrets, as well as spending a lot of valuable time worrying about the past and the "what if's" in the future. I hope we can work together to quiet this critic and find a way to enjoy the present. Please note that my education and experience does not include working with clients presenting with eating disorders, trauma, or OCD.
Our initial session will be more of an information gathering session. We will review initial paperwork, informed consent, and HIPAA, and will also allow time for me to start to learn more about you, and begin to develop treatment goals to address your concerns if you decide to pursue ongoing therapy.
I truly enjoy connecting with clients and working together to help them in their journey in life. I understand pursing therapy is not an easy process and can be intimidating and challenging, but I hope to create a comfortable environment to allow clients to feel safe in order to share and grow. I utilize humor, when appropriate, and overall prioritize being client-centered and meeting my clients where they are in life.
My experience includes working individuals in therapy addressing relationship concerns, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, self-esteem, and assertiveness skills. I also work with individuals dealing with adjustment to major life changes, including adjusting to college. I also have experience working with individuals who identify as LGBTQ, individuals considering transitioning, and consider myself an ally. I primarily utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in practice, but may also utilize other treatment approaches as appropriate for each individual. I encourage self-care and self-nurturing activities to support therapy.
CBT treatment usually involves efforts to change thinking and behavioral patterns. As a therapist, I utilize CBT to help clients learn to recognize one’s distortions in thinking that are creating problems, and then to reevaluate them in light of reality; help clients to identify problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations, and learn to develop a greater sense of confidence in one’s own abilities. CBT also can involve facing one’s fears instead of avoiding them; and learning to calm one’s mind and relax one’s body.
I utilize DBT with clients to identify skills for managing intense emotions and negotiating social relationships. DBT includes learning and applying skills including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.