Hello! I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). I have a masters degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and I received my doctorate from Liberty University, in the field of community care and counseling with a focus in traumatology. I have worked in the mental health field since 2002 and became a licensed mental health therapist in 2010. I’ve worked in a variety of fields including the school system with youth, residential treatment facilities, psychiatric treatment facilities for youth, in-home therapy for youth and adults, crisis response work, individual therapy, as well as couples therapy and group therapy. I am very dedicated to my clients and I assist my clients to the best of my ability to achieve their therapy goals. I also believe therapy is not an extremely long period of time and I encourage my clients to work very diligently to achieve their goals in a reasonable timeframe. I do not believe therapy should be years and years of meeting with a therapist. I do not want a client to get dependent on me as a therapist. I want my clients to reach their goals and be able to gradually exit therapy in the best way possible.
In our first session together we will start with brief introductions, and then we will identify the specific concerns and challenges of the client. In the first session, I will also explore with the client their specific goals of therapy and what they want to accomplish while in therapy. Completing these tasks will help guide me in creating the best treatment plan in collaboration with my clients.
My greatest strength as a provider is, I am extremely patient with my clients. I am not judgmental of whatever my clients share with me. I am very open and honest when it comes to providing my clients with feedback. I do not sugarcoat situations and I do not pacify my clients. I provide a very heavy reality therapy approach, but I am able to show compassion, empathy, and concern when guiding my clients through positive outcomes. I have worked with a variety of clients, with a variety of mental health diagnoses and emotions, and I am able to meet clients where they are. I’ve interacted with clients from the worst times of their lives to the best times in their lives. Also, I am aware of my limitations as a therapist. I am open to referring clients elsewhere if the need arises and if I know my limitations are not effective for the client. I want my clients to get the best treatment available and I do my part in making sure that happens.
I love working with clients who are determined to improve their current situation. I love working with clients who are eager and curious about therapy and are willing to do the work to improve their situation. I love working with clients who are willing to learn and clients who are receptive to feedback whether it's positive feedback or constructive feedback. I love working with clients who honor their appointments, and who are willing to take a look at their inner selves in order to improve.
I’ve worked with adults and youth in the field from inpatient hospitalization, to in-home therapy, to individual therapy, to group therapy and crisis work with this model. I assist clients in expressing their wants clearly, understand their own actions to achieve their wants, evaluate whether their actions are helpful or destructive to their own wants, and plan and commit to more effective behaviors to achieve their wants. This counseling approach is present-focused and often future-oriented. The past is discussed only to learn from it and not dwell on it. This approach offers clients a clear, pragmatic roadmap to navigate their world to make better choices, and feel more fulfilled.
CBT is a talking therapy that can help clients manage their problems by changing the way they think and behave. If you assist clients in altering their thoughts, then emotions will be altered and then as a positive outcome, behavior will be changed. I incorporate the ABC (Actions, Behavior, Consequences) model of CBT. I’ve worked with adults and youth in the field from inpatient hospitalization, to in-home therapy, to individual therapy, to group therapy sessions and crisis work with this model.