Charissa Zayas LCSW

I knew that I always liked helping people. The natural people pleaser in me wanted to make everyone smile. I didn't know exactly how I would be able to help people until after I graduated college. I had an interview with Ireland Home Based Services (my first big girl job outside of college that was in my field of study). The person who interviewed me ended up being the director of that region, and she inspired me to become a therapist. I interviewed for a job as a caseworker. My supervisor at the time said "Well are you sure you don't want to be a therapist? You have all of the qualifications." I looked at her and said, "I don't think I am qualified to be a therapist. I don't know a lot about a lot of things. I'm not married and I don't have any kids so I feel like I can't relate to people who have those struggles." She looked at me and said, "You don't have to experience what other people experience in order to help them. I believe you can do it." I did it for the next four years.

In working with me, you will feel heard and validated. We will work on whatever goals you want to accomplish because you are the expert in your life. I am not here to tell you what to do. I am here to work with you and assist you in figuring out what you want and what would be most beneficial for you.

The Gift of Therapy by Irvin D Yalom is hands down the best book I have read about being a therapist and how important the relationship is. Yalom talks about how interventions don't heal people, relationships heal people and it is OK to let the patient matter to you. This book talks about the importance of not being "diagnosis driven" because it can limit the therapist in treatment because instead of treating a person, they could potentially just treat a diagnosis. This book talks about how it is important for therapists themselves to take accountability if they make a mistake. I remember countless times I would apologize for something I have said that might have been perceived in a negative light. One of my previous clients said, "Why are you apologizing to me? Adults don't apologize to kids." That broke my heart. I also love how this book discusses how one modality is not a cure-all for one specific diagnosis. Yalom discusses the importance of pulling from multiple modalities because each person is complex and different.

• Florida, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, SW18343

My first job was working at Ireland Home Based Services. I worked with families that have been impacted by the Department of Children's and Services known as CPS. I worked with parents whose children had been taken away from them and assisted them in getting their children back into their care. I assisted children and teenagers in processing trauma from being in foster care, abuse, and neglect. I testified in court for multiple clients whom I saw in therapy. Some of the issues they faced were domestic violence and substance use. The next job I worked at was called Family & Children's Services. It was similar to my first job but the difference was I worked from home via telehealth. I did not do a lot of home visits. My caseload consisted of mostly children and teenagers with behaviors and trauma. I then worked at Transformative Growth Counseling where the majority of my caseload was LGBTQIA+. My next job consisted of working with the elderly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities ranging from TBI's to dementia to Alzheimer's. I now work case manager who specializes in finding out what is covered under people's insurance and providing them with resources. I also assist with scheduling doctor's appointments and assessing needs.