My Approach to Helping
Throughout my time as a mental health counselor, I have had the opportunity to work with various different ages and populations. I specialize in working with children and teenagers who are experiencing suicidal ideation, depression/anxiety, trauma, and relationship issues. I use narrative therapy to allow my clients to tell their stories and feel in control of their healing journey. I also like to use motivational interviewing to assist my clients in understanding any resistance to change and in creating small, achievable goals. I also have experience using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with clients who engage in irrational thinking to help them understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interrelated.
My ideal client is someone who has a hard time both understanding and expressing their thoughts, needs, and emotions. This individual most likely wants to understand where their pain is stemming from and why they feel the way that they do. I would work with this individual on identifying current and past stressors that contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression. I would also assist them in implementing new coping skills and improving overall self-esteem and confidence, so they are able to better understand themselves and their needs and create their own happiness in their daily lives.
I am able to help my clients by creating a safe, supportive, and comfortable environment where they are able to explore and better understand their mental health needs. I truly feel the key to a successful therapy journey is the therapeutic relationship where the client feels understood and supported by their therapist. I strive to build this relationship with each of my clients by learning about their strengths, hobbies, and
relationships and using these things as part of their healing process. Throughout my time as a therapist, I have had extensive experience working with children and teenagers. While working with this population, I have seen the impact social media, COVID-19, and today's society in general have had on adolescents'
mental health. I strive to use my expertise and experience to support younger populations in making sense of the world and feeling comfortable and confident in themselves.