LPC, 8 years of experience
We all, at some point, are (or have been) stuck in the quicksand of life. From dealing with difficult life transitions, relationship/family discords, anxiety, depression, chronic pain/illness, and life stressors. I act as the sounding board and strong voice to help you become your most sufficient self. Hi, I'm Paula a Licensed Psychotherapist offering services in the states of Pennsylvania, Mayland, Texas, and Delaware. I received my Master's degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in M.Phil.Ed Professional Counseling and M.S.Ed in Counseling and Mental Health Services. I am excited to embark on this journey of healing and self-discovery with you as I have learned in my almost a decade of experience that the "self" is the most powerful tool in helping you navigate your life in the best way possible.
With almost a decade of expertise in providing mental health therapy, I am passionate and committed to being your “advocate” as we collaboratively identify the truth of your distress and help you heal. I adopt the principle of identifying, understanding, accepting and nurturing these roots of distress. By doing this you become better equipped to navigate these areas that may cause much resistance to your growth and also nurture your strengths
I cater to all races, religions, gender, and sexual identities from ages 18 years and up, with a trauma-informed yet integrative approach drawing from the following:-cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), ecosystemic structural family therapy (ESFT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), person-centered, feminist therapy prescriptive, and a lot of laughter. As a lover of mindfulness meditation, podcast host, and professional singer-songwriter/producer, I strive to be better at doing life with a lot of self-compassion, patience, and resilience. I’m ready to help you do the same!
I work with clients who are dealing with PTSD/Trauma, difficult life transitions, relationship/family discords, anxiety, depression, ADHD management, creative/artistic distress, parenting difficulties, women's issues, chronic pain/illness, as well as racial, gender, and sexual marginalization issues. Each client is different and it is important to tailor each treatment plan goal to the specific needs of my client as I often say that you are the "expert" on yourself.
I specialize in trauma-informed treatment modalities drawing from the likes of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic Experiencing Therapy (SE), to help walk clients through their life stories to identify the root of their distress. Once identified I walk them through understanding, accepting, and nurturing their experiences of trauma as it may shape who they are but never define them.
I specialize in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Bringing a compassionate and curious mindset to presenting issues in therapy helps our clients become more mindful and avoid feelings of being susceptible to the changing external conditions of their life experiences
Many of us were not taught the right language and formula to establish healthy relationship connections whether in romantic or familial relationships. We provide couples and family therapy to help bring more understanding, curiosity, and compassion to our relationships. Clients can explore their family and/or relational dynamics identifying generational habits, boundary setting, conflict resolution, roles, or attachment work. Our family systems treatment modalities draw from the likes of Family Systems Therapy, The Gottman Method, and Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT)
I work with clients using a strength-based and culturally competent approach to embracing their intersecting identities from race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, age, educational level, class, disability