I am licensed in Florida with 12 years of professional work experience helping clients learn effective skills to manage stress and anxiety, along with identifying the root causes of addictions, & how to cope with trauma and abuse. I also have experience working with feeling depression, adjustment disorders, and relationship dysfunction, as well as with high school, college, and professional athletes for improved performance and well-being.
My approach
I believe in short-term (3-5 days) and long-term (As long as needed) therapy treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan utilizing an Eclectic style that is individualized to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. I am here to support you in that process.
My focus
The client's that I have successfully worked with before with youth ages 12-18 within the Juvenile justice system, College age young adults from 18-23, and adults from the age of 24 to a range of 78. The mental health range has been from Addiction To Co-occurring disorders, ADHD, Trauma, PTSD, Veterans, Homeless, Anxiety, Depression etc
My communication style
My style of communication is a variety focused on respect, support, empathy.. and also being a very good listener. I concentrate on posing solutions in a manner that patients can understand and possibly adopt. They will be challenged when it appears that they are giving half-hearted responses, to delicately extract deeper and more profound input. My goal is to help clients to think, even when they are not in the mood, to hopefully arrive at epiphanies while reflecting on things we've discussed.
My journey to mental healthcare
What attracted me to a career as a therapist was my very first psychology course in college which had a profound impact on me, and then the first course in grad school that solidified my love for psychology. Personally, another personal reason was attending the funeral of one of my best friends who had committed suicide,.. it was very painful and at the funeral I promised his mother that I would do something with my life, to help prevent this from happening to anyone else I knew. I never feel that I am at work. it's my life's passion!
My goals for you
My approach is collaborative with helping clients to focus on setting goals that place them in the driver's seat of their lives. Identifying winnable short-term goals that will motivate them to prioritize being a better version of themselves, connected to their morals and values, to learn how to be more authentic, and in control so that they learn how to live and evolve into their true selves
My first session with you
Clients will feel rapport building, exploring their concerns, worries, and areas of their lives that they would like to see healing and growth. They will be encouraged to share and feel supported, and validated. Clients will be asked about their experience with therapy, and expectations, and provided a general overview of the service, as well as examined to identify their level of safety, and stability.