Jason Almerico,LCSW

I help individuals grappling with depression and anxiety feel more empowered and confident in gaining relief from their current emotional or relational challenges. When feeling depressed and anxious, its normal to feel trapped, alone in your head, while continually heaping self-criticism and doubt at your inability to function. A negative perception of your reality directly impacts important relationships, job performance, and personal wellness.
I won’t judge you when you share your challenges, but instead will hold space for your special circumstances to better understand why you\'re suffering. I want you to feel supported, you’re not alone and that there is hope to change and find solutions to managing these negative conditioned behaviors and thought patterns. In our sessions you will feel safe and able to trust I can hear anything you have to say. My trauma and mindfulness training will help walk you through past historical conditioned thought and behavioral patterns and see how they cause your current emotional triggers. With this knowledge you\'ll then learn techniques to counteract your default mode of functioning during triggers and to diminish the power of the triggers all together. You\'ll be challenged to pause and reflect and try on new ways of thinking and behaving.
I grew up in Boise, have blue collar roots, am a veteran, lived as a peace corps volunteer in South America, and spent time living in Asia and Africa. I\'ve been married and have three kids. My life experiences along with working with disadvantaged youth and families in the child welfare system from diverse backgrounds has informed my sensitivity to diversity and formed my ability to adapt and meet people where they\'re at, with respect and a non-judgemental attitude. I see people as human first, with a need to feel seen, heard, and valued. I find myself interested in knowing how to be a bridge for the differences we see in our community. Some of my most formative experiences have come from developing my Buddhist spiritual practice and participating in 10 day silent meditation retreats with monks and being a counselor for teen mindfulness camps. Most clinical interventions I use in my practice lead back to mindfulness and training the mind for higher overall functioning.