I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has provided behavioral health services to individuals since 2011. My practice approach is to start where you are in your life. I will compassionately listen to help you gain insight and develop tools to cope with life's challenges. Life transitions are normal, but sometimes living life can become so overwhelming you need someone to talk to about it. My goal is to help you cope with these changes and to move forward.
In our first session, we will start with brief introductions. We will discuss your reasons for seeking therapy and discuss the goals you want to achieve. I will do a psychosocial assessment which will help me to understand what has been going on in your life up until now and we will start working on the challenges or difficulties you are facing.
My experience includes helping clients cope with chronic or terminal illnesses. I have worked in the healthcare, mental health, and hospice fields. In addition, I have provided care for Veterans, their spouses, and their dependents. I have an understanding of the specific needs of these families and the issues related to serving in the military.
Have you ever heard of the saying "you are what you think"? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you to identify negative thinking patterns that influence how you feel and behave. I use this evidenced based therapy in my practice because irrational thoughts or "stinking thinking" can cause you to feel sad, anxious, fearful, etc. By challenging negative or irrational thoughts with factual information, you can engage in a reality check. The negative or irrational thoughts are replaced with more helpful, effective, and realistic thoughts which decreases feelings of sadness or anxiousness.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another evidence-based intervention that I use in my practice with clients. It is an action-oriented approach. With this method, clients learn to stop avoiding, denying and struggling with their inner emotions and instead accept that these feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations. These feelings should not prevent you from moving forward in your life. You will learn how to listen to your own negative self-talk, examine problematic relationships, or other challenges. You can decide if a problem requires immediate action and change or if it can be accepted for what it is while you learn to make changes to modify the situation. You will look at what has hasn't worked in the past. Once you face and accept your current challenges, you can make a commitment to stop fighting your past and start practicing more effective behaviors based on your personal values and goals. The goal of ACT is to help you develop and expand your psychological flexibility or openness and expand your ability to adapt your thoughts and behaviors to better align with your values and goals.
Solutions Focused Brief Treatment is future-focused and goal-oriented. The intervention focuses on solutions rather than on problems. It is a short-term, goal-focused, evidence-based therapy approach. Using this approach, you will set goals and work towards achieving them. You will construct a clear vision of your preferred future self and you will work towards achieving it.