Linda Najjar, Ph.D.

Mission Statement: I believe that we all have inner wisdom and it is a matter of learning how to access it. I emphasize personal growth and well-being for individuals, families, and communities of all ethnicities, cultures, races, genders, sexual orientations, abilitydisability levels, socioeconomic statuses, ages, sizes, and any other identities.

My Approach to Treatment: Although I have expertise as a psychologist and I can share that expertise with you, I believe that you are the expert of your life. You have learned how to survive thus far, you know yourself best, and you already have many strengths. You may feel that some of your coping skills are not working for you and you need to develop some new ones. I believe that we all have inner wisdom and it is a matter of learning how to access it. That may require new ways of thinking or coping. You are the one who is capable of making those changes. After we determine the goals that are most appropriate for you, we will work on attaining those goals. Of course we can modify treatment goals as need be. I also ask that you collaborate in treatment by being an active participant, trying out new ideas for coping or ways of thinking, and providing ongoing feedback about how the therapeutic relationship is going. It is important to me that you are getting what you need out of coming to counseling. Treatment takes into account the context, environmental, social, political, cultural, and familial factors and systems that may be contributing to your presenting concerns and any coping strategies that may not be working for you. I utilize an integrative approach. This means that I use a range of techniques that are empirically supported (e.g., supported by current research in the field of psychology) and are modified to be specific to your goals and needs. Examples include cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness based approaches, and feminist multicultural therapy. Primary goals include collaborating together to: o Reduce problematic symptoms. o Identify strengths. o Establish positive coping skills.

I feel extremely honored that I get to hear people's life stories and contribute in a small way to helping them find the tools to feel better.

We all have ups and downs in our lives. Just because someone is feeling anxious or depressed or is not feeling like themselves, does not mean that they are flawed. We all know what it is like to feel those things to varying degrees. I try to validate for people that their struggles are real and normalize that anyone going through what they have would probably be feeling similarly. It takes courage and strength to ask for help.