My Approach to Helping
Dr. Warson's research interests and clinical experience focus on wellness, social and cultural diversity, as well as arts-informed stress reduction and pain management. Dr. Warson's integrative approach draws upon Art Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) in the treatment of depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, acute stress disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
More Info About My Practice
Dr. Warson taught full-time as an assistant professor in the Graduate Art Therapy Programs at Eastern Virginia Medical School (2004-2009) and The George Washington University (2009-2013) and returned to private practice in 2013 to apply her research knowledge with her clinical expertise. As a trained narrative therapist, Dr. Warson interweaves the storying process in her arts-informed approach in providing transformational meaning-making experiences.
Theoretical Influences that Guide My Work
Dr. Warson's expertise in qualitative research stem from her doctoral studies at Colorado State University where she studied methods of qualitative and visual research as well as environmental psychology with psychologist Dr. James Banning. Since 2002, Dr. Warson has been researching qualitative approaches in analyzing the dynamic relationship between verbal associations, behavioral considerations, and artmaking to provide contextual meaning to understanding visual forms of expression. Dr. Warson has served as a principal investigator on over 50 student, programmatic, and independent research studies, employing evidence-based practice models, mixed method designs, and paradigms of qualitative research (post-positivist & postmodern). Because of Dr. Warson's collaborative research with indigenous communities, she is well versed in culturally responsive practices including community-driven and community-based participatory approaches. It is because of Dr. Warson's research background that she considers evidence-based practices as a guiding force in her clinical practice.
Importance of the Client-Therapist Alliance
In concert with principles from Person-Centered Care Planning, we value collaboration, active participation, self-determination, and "community" inclusion in the treatment planning process (Tondora, Miller, & Davidson, 2001).