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Hello, my name is Ruth Contreras, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), licensed in California based in Ventura County and working with clients via telehealth statewide. Working with adolescents to older adults focused approach is client-centered and mindfulness-based to meet your needs where you are currently at.
My approach
The approach used varies based on the client’s needs. The most common approaches used are client/person-centered approach providing unconditional positive regard, empathy, congruency, and active listening; motivational interviewing; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; mindfulness-based cognitive therapy; guided imagery therapy.
My focus
Clients who I have the most experience are clients who have experienced trauma (including medical trauma), anxiety, depression, substance use/abuse, codependency, adjustment, and bipolar disorders. Working with a large age range from 12 years old to older adults (geriatric population).
My communication style
The communication style used is all based on a client/person-centered approach, making sure I actively listen and make the client’s goals a priority to meet the client where they are.
My journey to mental healthcare
The reason I became a therapist is because I wanted to give back to the world what I felt would benefit them as much as I did and have been able to witness loved ones around me overcome some of the most difficult times in their lives.
My goals for you
My approach to goal setting with the client is being able to get the chance to build a healthy client-therapist relationship in order to understand what goals the client is focused on overcoming/accomplishing.
My first session with you
During the first session, expectations are asking open-ended questions, identifying what leads to therapy, and what is expected for the client to obtain from therapy. This is the time I will ask most of the questions in order to start where the client is at.
