Elisabeth Faust

Hi! My name is Elisabeth Faust and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I have worked in the behavioral health field for thirty (30) plus years. However, if you enjoy what you do, it is not work but a beloved career. I start slow getting to know my clients and making them feel comfortable before we move on to problem solving. I appreciate that people need to be heard and listening can be the best therapy. Different therapies work with different people. I employ basics of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Reality Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills. I do encourage using mindfulness techniques and journaling. I feel journaling can be helpful for all people, and yes, I journal myself, as needed and routine. We will travel the road of wellness together at your speed and comfort. I look forward to getting to know you and you, me. I do individual and group therapies. I am interested in starting a group therapy for middle-aged women with behavioral health issues who can devote time for group work once to twice monthly. The group will consist of process and psychotherapy. I am looking to have six (6) women in a group. I have experience of working with adult men and women and the aged.

My approach

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Reality Therapy; Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills; Mindfulness; Journaling.

My focus

I worked for a large, behavioral health outpatient center in South Louisiana (Lafayette) for twenty-five (25) years. My clients were adult men and women. I have also provided therapy to the elderly and disabled in nursing homes for four (4) years on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. During my time at Tyler Behavioral Health Center I worked on-call seeing psychiatric emergencies at the charity hospital emergency room once monthly for a period of three (3) years. I am experienced and comfortable working with clients who have depression, anxiety, anger issues, trauma, and mood disorders. I am open to working with clients who have Schizophrenia and Delusional Disorders, in combination with them also seeing a psychiatrist/psychologist.

My communication style

I am calm and soft-spoken but speak in a clear, audible voice. I do have a southern accent, as I was born in Alabama and have lived in southern states all my life. I take my time getting to know my clients and encourage them to talk in an open communication style. Pauses in speech are allowed. I feel the client is in charge of the speed and type of therapy which will be used in our therapy sessions. We will identify problem area(s), set goals, and develop a treatment plan for their wellness and recovery.

My journey to mental healthcare

I was a psychology major in college, and received a B.A. in Psychology. During college, I worked as a records clerk for a local police department. I liked the work but it was a stressful environment. My mother and husband encouraged me to get my Masters of Social Work at a nearby college. It was a fairly new program as it had moved from the college I was attending to another college. I quit my job and devoted my time to graduate school. My husband was very supportive, as was my mother. I feel into it backwards and loved it from the beginning. I think I was timid at first but working with severe, mental health clients brought me out of my shyness.

My goals for you

The best way is to be direct with clients. We will not do it initially but will work up to setting goal(s) for him/her. It may be done in the 2nd therapy session as the first session will be focused on gathering information on the client and getting to know them.

My first session with you

We will be doing the intake, which consist of their beginnings, family, developmental years, school, social life from a child to an adult, marriage, children, stressors, and behavioral health history. The intake allows therapy to start at the beginning as stressors are seen through the intake process.