Mx. Dylan Ann Spradlin LCSW

My life philosophy includes "Self-care is more than spa days and bubble baths. It is boundaries, and doing the chores you sometimes don't want to do, so you are able to better show up for yourself and others." It's been a lifelong journey to learn how to show up for myself so I can show up best for my clients. In order to do that well, I structure my business practice to honor my own self care. I do this by being a private pay practice, enabling me to be selective of the clients I take on, with a low client load, be able to meet my financial needs while being more flexible in my scheduling. This also means I walk my talk when I teach my clients about self-care, meeting their own needs and prioritizing themselves. This is not about being selfish - but it's about knowing boundaries so well, that when I am able to be generous and flexible, those actions are truly from the heart and not sourced from obligation or desperation.

At the beginning of our work together, I will ask you (or each member of your family) how you will know you, or your child or family, is getting better. We will have a conversation together to identify specific behaviors to look for in yourself, both short and long term, that you can watch for to see signs of improvement. As we go, we'll be able to adjust and tweak the goals to fit your needs. For example, if you are bringing your child in for therapy for anxiety we might together identify that you'll know things are improving when she can sleep alone again - we'll decide on a specific number of days a week to aim for, such as 3 out of 7 nights to start with - as well as seeing improvement in the "Drop-off Drama." Specifically, you want smooth drop-offs at preschool or school. So we may also choose to aim for 3 out of 5 days for that. We will check in periodically about those goals, and you can let me know if you see any changes. You might also notice other changes at home such as your child using more language around her emotions such as "I feel frustrated" instead of having a big outburst. If it's you coming to therapy, we may start each session with me asking you what your intention is for our time together. This sometimes is a very big question, and can be a hard one to answer. But it's important. Once you are able to identify - with my help to get you there - what you want for yourself, we can begin to explore together what gets in the way of you having that, whether it's connection, acceptance, feeling seen, clarity about your job, a sense of inner calm...it can be anything! And it also can be different each session - or the same. I will guide the session - but you are in charge of where you want to go. In family therapy, I don't zero in on any one person. (Unless there is substance abuse - then that will need to be addressed first.) If there is conflict in a family, my perspective supports the view that it's a Family Problem. So I'll be asking everyone what they hope for if therapy together is successful. And I will help you get there - and we will continue to check in about what those goals are, if they've changed, or stayed the same.

If you've had an experience with therapy that was sub-par, I really want you to know that every therapist is different. I've heard some stories from clients that shock me, so I know there are a LOT of unethical therapists out there, and several therapists that may be great for one person, but just maybe weren't a great fit for you. I also know that no therapist can help a person past where they have already done their own work. And some therapists have done only surface-level therapy - which is fine for clients who only want that. If you are looking for deep, effective, transformative therapy, you need a therapist that has done deep, transformative work. I have explored my own prenatal and birth and done a lot of healing in those areas as well as my own childhood and family dynamics, personal trauma from childhood and adult, and work very hard to continue to explore "my own stuff" as it comes up in order best show up for myself in my life and relationships, but also for my clients. This is why I know there's no way I could have a caseload of 35 clients with 5 minutes between them. I want to show up for you fully. I want you to be as committed to your and your family's growth as I am to you - part of that is financial.

• Montana, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, BBH-LCSW-LIC-76985

Beginning with a keen interest and passion with our earliest beginnings, I began as a labor and birth doula, but went on to my Masters in a Marriage and Family Therapy licensure program that focused on the therapeutic side of things - how what happens in those earliest experiences shapes our lifespan - and how to heal and grow from those sometimes traumatic events. After several years working in a crisis agency to help both child and adult victims of crime, domestic violence and child abuse while also holding down a part time child & family play therapy practice in Washington State, I moved to Montana, where I expanded my career into social work. After receiving my MSW, I found two modalities that deepened my own growth both personally as well as professionally. NARM helps me focus my help on adults and their intentions for healing their own complicated childhoods, and Synergetic Play Therapy is what I use with children in the playroom - however SPT is more of a modality and is, in fact, a way of being. Through these modalities I have deepened my own presence, connection with myself, my relationships to those in my life and my commitment to making an impact in my community.