What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
I did not necessarily choose to become a therapist, the profession sort of chose me. I initially went to graduate school to pursue a degree in Social Work at the graduate level but as I matriculated through my graduate program I realized that I had a passion for helping others & I realized that I love to teach as well. Being a therapist allows me to do both so I chose to take the Clinical route in Social Work my second year as a graduate student. and here I am 5 years later!
In what ways does your personality influence your approach to therapy?
I am a very outgoing person therefore I really take the rapport building phase of therapy seriously. I put a lot of value on the fact that people are different, our backgrounds, the way in which we are socialize, culturally, etc. Therefore I do not attempt to use a single approach with one client. My approach is based on all of the aforementioned things and what a particular client is going through at the time, and where they are in the life stages journey. My training has thought me that all of these things can make or break the therapeutic alliance between client and therapist so I take them into considerations before working with a person.
Are there any recurring themes or issues you’ve noticed as you treat people in your area of specialization, and how has this insight guided your approach?
Yes, I noticed that lots of people have unresolved trauma in their past. I have worked with people of various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and the one thing 75-80% of them shared was a traumatic history. Trauma affects people in various ways, sexually, mentally, physically, emotionally, and it takes years to face it and deal with it. A lot of people do not realize that they are more than their traumatic experiences in life and this is what I have learned as a therapist who treats trauma. Existentialism teaches that people are more than their life experiences, and that they are capable of living up to other dreams and goals. Trauma sticks with a person for life but it does not have to define who a person is.
Specialties
Depression
Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.
Loss/Grief
Grief is a reaction to an emotionally significant loss and often comes with symptoms of depression or anxiety. These symptoms can remain intense and last for a long time after a loss, making it difficult to move forward with a healthy lifestyle.
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is the degree to which a person feels confident, valuable, and worthy of respect. Feeling low self-esteem can influence overall well-being and be linked to anxiety and/or depression.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a condition that is precipitated by a perceived terrifying event. This event need not occur directly to the person but may happen vicariously—having seen something terrible happen to another person. The condition may last months or years while symptoms include ruminating thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety when triggered, and potential substance abuse in attempt to cope.
General Expertise
Depression
Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean nervousness, worry, or self-doubt. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear.
Addiction
Regular involvement with a substance or activity in a compulsive, hard to control way that often has harmful consequences. Often refers to substance use, but can include compulsive behaviors such as sex, gambling, or shopping.
Anger management
It's normal to experience anger at times, but for some, it becomes so frequent, intense, or difficult to control that it negatively affects their life. Anger management is a structured therapeutic approach toward reducing one’s anger to a point where more appropriate coping and/or conflict management skills are used. Beliefs and thoughts leading toward anger outbursts are explored while healthy coping and interpersonal skills are put into practice.
Bipolar disorder
Characterized by alternating symptoms of depression and mania. During more extreme episodes, depression may lead to the point of suicidal ideation and attempts while extreme bouts of mania are marked by impulsive behavior, lack of sleep, elevated esteem, and even psychosis.
Fees
$90
First Session
$100
Family Therapy
$75
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness Practices
Strength Based Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Art Therapy
Existential Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Narrative Therapy
Positive Psychology
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Training / Certifications
EMDR
ACT
Food & Mood (Role of Nutrition in Mental Health)
Licensure
NC, LCSW, C012805
Education
Master of Social Work--North Carolina Central University
Work History
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 4 plus years experience working with individuals with substance addiction and mental health disorders including, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, & more. In addition, I've worked with individuals experiencing various types of trauma, including domestic violence, sexual abuse, & traumatic loss, i.e. homicide/unexpected deaths/drug overdose, helping them to cope with & process their experiences. I have experience working in both in inpatient & outpatient settings providing therapy & psycho-education to patients & their families. I hold a Master of Social Work from North Carolina Central University, & an undergraduate degree in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Therapeutic models that I used are Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy & Narrative Therapy. I help people feel better, & live better one day at a time by promoting hope & positive expectations, using empathy, & teaching people how to recognize environmental triggers.
Location
108 E Green St, Unit 529, Franklinton, 27525, NC