My Approach to Helping
I HAVE EXPERTISE IN WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS AND COUPLES, AS WELL AS FAMILIES.
The title of Family Therapist indicates that I approach treatment by thinking relationally, which can be used with families, individuals and couples. One client does not mean their relationships cannot still be explored.
THE CLIENT CAN ALSO BE THE EXPERT
Clients often start therapy with strengths they are not utilizing or not aware of. I like to work collaboratively with the client using their strengths, which helps create a sense of achievement. Working collaboratively means I recognize the wisdom and resources a client possesses. You are an expert on you.
THE PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM, THE PERSON IS NOT THE PROBLEM.
Family therapy will look at how the problem is effecting the client and separate it from being part of the client.
The problems is not you, the problem is the problem. Identity can be negatively shaped when the client sees the problems as themselves, or part of themselves.
More Info About My Practice
As a licensed and skilled family therapist, I offer services to individuals, couples, teens, children, and families. Based on my education, training, and life experiences I believe that the individual can be better understood through the context of their relationships (family, romantic, etc.). I believe it is more important to understand the meaning of emotions, versus whether they are right or wrong to feel.
I have integrated different approaches from family theory to help clients better understand themselves. This includes emotionally focused therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, internal family systems and narrative therapy. I use a systemic and collaborative approach to help you holistically understand issues and create solutions.
How My Own Struggles Made Me a Better Therapist
I have learned, through my education and experience, that exploring mental health can help one discover a healthy and meaningful life path. During my higher education at Virginia Commonwealth University, I struggled with the uncertainty of my future and often felt lost. As I pursued my studies in psychology, I learned about thought processes and the effect of symptoms. I started to use self exploration to address my own insecurities about my future. I developed a better understanding of myself resulting in feelings of having a purpose and life direction.
After receiving my Bachelor's in Psychology I was motivated to explore how relationships can play a part in our thought processes by studying Marriage and Family Therapy at the graduate program at Seton Hall University. In graduate school I learned more about the treatment of mental health in the context of family relationships and romantic relationships. I was given a blueprint of how unrealistic and inappropriate thought processes can cause or increase feelings of anxiety and depression. I learned how to identify the inner strengths clients possess that they are not aware of, and how to work collaboratively with clients to help them feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in their changes. As I gained more knowledge about how to help others, I maintained the belief that understanding one's self can lead to feelings of purpose and relief.
I carried this belief with me as I treated clients in various settings during my postgraduate experience so that I could help others explore themselves and the changes they could make to improve their lives. I have worked with low income families using in-home therapy, I've worked with adolescents in the juvenile justice system in San Francisco and Brooklyn, and I've worked in outpatient clinical settings in Brooklyn and Queens helping clients with severe symptoms of personality disorder and Bipolar Disorder. In these various settings I looked for emotions that I shared in common with clients, so that I could empathize with their struggles and help them feel validated.
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