Diana Ball LCSW

The first few sessions often look and feel different than subsequent sessions. I believe it is important for clients to recognize this. The first time we meet, I have a few housekeeping things to discuss (confidentiality, practice policies, etc). We will spend the rest of the session talking about what brings you in. Often we talk about the initial concern and then I may ask about a variety of topics including, medical concerns, family history, current relationships and hobbies. These can give me insights in to your environments, both past and present. Toward the end of the first session, or at the beginning of a second session, I like to set clear goals and objectives. This helps to keep us on track during therapy. I work in several modalities and encourage client feedback.

I use two modalities, however can pull from much more as needed: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers clients to increase skills in areas such as Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. When using DBT, I discuss these skills with clients and then work to identify ways the client uses or struggles to use skills effectively in day-to-day life. Internal Family Systems (IFS) utilizes insight and self-reflection to explore the positive motivations in engaging in problematic behaviors or beliefs. IFS is built on a theory that believes that we all feel tension between our many "parts" and these parts all have positive intentions. We listen to these parts in order to find compassion and wisdom that resides internally.

• Indiana, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 34008963A