My Experience and Approach to Counseling
Experience and education:
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I have 3 years of experience providing mental health services to children, adolescents, adults, families, and groups. Conditions I am experienced in treating include anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, reactive attachment disorder, and selective mutism. During this time, I specialized in working with individuals with autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and related developmental issues.
In addition to working in the mental health field, I also have 5 years of experience teaching special education in an autism support classroom in the Mercer Island School District. During this time, I worked with board certified behavior analysts on a weekly basis to create and implement positive behavioral support plans for students. I have extensive experience working with children who exhibit challenging behaviors, and am knowledgeable of deescalation skills and preventative strategies to support positive behaviors.
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I have a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University Seattle and a BA in Special Education with Elementary Education endorsement from Western Washington University.
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My approach to therapy:
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As a licensed therapist, my job is to create an environment where you and your child feel heard, supported, and understood. During our first few sessions, I work on getting to know you and your child's strengths, interests, communication preferences, and goals for treatment in order to provide you with services that best meet your needs.
The therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in creating change, so my initial focus is on establishing safety and comfort during our therapy sessions.
My style is gentle, non-judgmental, and flexible. I incorporate a variety of modalities into our work, including play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, solutions focused therapy, and mindfulness based therapies. As therapy is a collaborative process, I encourage ongoing feedback and discussion of what is helpful for you and what you would like for us to try differently. I look forward to providing support, encouragement, and empowerment as we begin this journey together.
