Julia Sandoval LPC

My style is first and foremost Client-Centered. To that end, the complete process revolves around the individual's self-empowerment. While my position as the professional counselor is intended to guide the client, the person-centered approach allows each client to "steer the ship" through the process of therapy as he or she becomes the expert of one's life all the more. Two other main components of my approach are psychoanalysis also known as "talk therapy" and Cognitive Behavior therapy (CBT). Talking about the concerns, identifying them, and processing through various experiences are compulsory for the exercise of understanding. Knowledge is power! Therefore, you as the client will be doing most of the talking, If you ever feel at a loss for words, I will kickstart the dialogue with questions to keep the therapeutic process moving forward. Talking is of the utmost importance to get to the "bottom of things." However, talking is usually not enough and this is where the action engendered in the CBT comes into play. There will be coping skills/life skills presented to be applied to your everyday mental practice. These are life-changing skills that are designed to shift specific behavior patterns that have been unhealthy/dysfunctional/ineffective in one's life.

I am an introvert, therefore, deep meaningful conversations are more of my "cup of tea". When I was a kid I had these visions of myself sitting and talking with people like I do today. Of course, I did not understand what that meant then, however, I did always know that I wanted to help people.

• South Carolina, LPC, 6909

I am a licensed professional counselor with broad experience in assorted counseling techniques, such as Individual, group, couples, and family therapy. Nearly ten years as a counselor have presented sundry opportunities to help individuals, especially survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. My journey serving others began when I worked as an advocate and certified victim service provider (VSP). Wide-ranging experience in that capacity laid the foundation for me to become the psychotherapist I am today. In fact, the lessons of working as an advocate have been key factors to my becoming an effective therapist. Similarly, the work as a therapist has improved my skills as an effective advocate for my clients. The two disciplines are inherently connected. Unfortunately, as I learned while working in advocacy, my home state of South Carolina ranks in the top five nationally of deadly intimate partner violence. That reality led to frequent work with individual and family survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Serving those victims honed my abilities to engage clients about trauma and grief, to develop safety plans tailored to their unique circumstances, and to manage high level crises. I assisted clients with court hearings, orders of protection, job searches, resume building, group and individual therapy, and other matters. Over the past decade, countless interactions with hundreds of clients have heightened my sense of discernment to design individualized treatment plans to match each client's unique circumstances. Care, love, and passion for my profession translate to an earnest drive and desire to help anyone who wants to help him or herself. When a client exhibits the courage to change and to move out of a comfort zone, I reciprocate by honoring his or her commitment with dedication and hard work. A client will find my unyielding support if he or she is willing to take that leap of faith and trust me. The central focus of my career has been to help, serve, and be an advocate for others. As a psychotherapist today, I have guided numerous individuals to cope with grief, trauma, relationship conflict, low self-esteem, the effects of mood disorders and life's stress. Service in non-profit, public mental health, and private practice sectors has empowered me with a skill-set to formulate effective counseling strategies to address most challenges facing clients. Countless clients and I have worked together to confront emotional discord such as depression, anxiety, familial conflict, anger, and major life changes resulting in adjustment issues. Currently I work Telehealth online therapy, which has broadened my experience particularly connecting with individuals from various countries all over the world. This highlight of my career has sharpened my cultural sensitivities and competencies. When I first became a therapist, I never imagined having the opportunity to support and reach out to others living thousands of miles abroad therefore this experience has been quite amazing as well as fulfilling. Previously, I have served in a mental health clinic. This phase of my career has presented extensive opportunities to assist individuals and families from diverse demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds struggling with wide-ranging mental health disorders. In addition, becoming a mother in the past three years has further broadened my perspective and imbued deeper empathy regarding trauma that can impact individual development, especially during early childhood. My counseling strategy is steadfastly client-centered and humanistic. Together, a client and I cultivate a strong connection based on open and honest dialogue. Therapeutic modalities are engaged and tailored to fit a client’s needs at all times. My practice involves various professional evidence-based practices such as cognitive-therapy, psychodynamic concepts, motivational interviewing, trauma-focused intervention, and dialectical behavior therapy informed techniques. My profession is a life’s passion which compels me to provide unfaltering support and care to my clients. Every step in my practice is handled ethically with trust, respect, competence, and care. And clients will be empowered to achieve goals, dreams, and plans for the future as mutual understanding in the client-therapist relationship grows.