LCSW, 20 years of experience
"Hello and Welcome! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), also holding a Certified Advance Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC) with over 20 years of professional experience in a therapeutic environment. I provide a safe, comfortable and supportive environment where you can express your experiences, feelings and concerns. My goal is to empower you as we focus on individual needs, preferences and goals, while providing and promoting you to participate in your own care and/or recovery.
For some, therapy is anxiety provoking, for others its relief. Our first session will be a time to discover, share and communicate needs, establish goals though the process of an evaluation as we navigate through the challenges you need to address.
Honesty and communication are most important in my practice. Each client has unique problems, along with personal core beliefs, values, cultures and/or environment experiences. The root of each problem comes from something, somewhere, or someone. Each roots is a symptom we explore, and navigate through to help you address specific challenges or conditions. My most valuable asset is supportive listening, and empowering a person as they on as write a new narrative to their story.
Therapy requires the willingness to be vulnerable, open to self-reflection, and actively engage in the therapeutic process. We will work together to reduce risks, and build resilience through exploring your challenges. This is your therapy, your goals will aim to improve your well being and address symptoms and promote positive changes.
Cognitive Behavior therapy is use most often in my practice. This focus is to help resolve present-day challenges, relationship problems, anger issues, stress and other concern that negatively affect mental health and quality of life. The goal of treatment is to help identify, challenge, and change maladaptive thought patterns in order to change their responses to difficult situations.
Motivational Interviewing, (MI) uses the basics of focusing (bring together), evoking (bring to mind) and planning (formulating). I like using MI with CBT in tandem with each other. While CBT is used to reframe harmful thought patterns, MI uses change talk to form an environment of acceptance, compassion and safety to reach a commitment of change.
ACT is use in accepting difficult emotions and committing to meaningful actions. It's not about eliminating difficult feelings, but about changing one's relationship with them and moving forward in a values-driven way. ACT is also used in the treatment of substance use disorders, helping individuals develop strategies to tolerate painful experiences and cope with challenges without using substances.
As children we go through life, dealing with new situations and the “curve balls” life throws at us, this is where our psyche creates “parts” to help us adapt more easily to these situations. With good mental health, these “parts” work well with each other, as a functional family, under the guidance of the core self (the oldest and wisest part of you). However, when we experience traumas, big or small, these parts can become more rigid in certain ways and the cooperation between various parts becomes limited. Think of it as a dysfunctional family and this dysfunction can vary based on the severity of the effects of the trauma.
Emotions are powerful, they are experienced physically, influence our thoughts and guide our action or behaviors. They can be debilitating, but also beautiful in allowing us to connect with others. We look at attachment styles, and how your emotions are experienced. Do they color your perceptions, lead you to any conclusions or influence your decisions? These are probing questions we can answer by examining your experiences and reframes key issues, negative patterns, and underlying emotions or fears as they relate to each individual’s attachment needs.
2 ratings with written reviews
May 24, 2025
Yvonne is the best therapist I have ever worked with. I cannot recommend her enough. If you need help, she is an excellent support. I am so fortunate to have met her on this platform!
February 1, 2025
Yvonne is amazing. She is the best therapist I have ever worked with and has helped me so much. 10/10 would recommend!