Kandace Ledergerber LMHC

I believe that therapy should be something that helps a client propel forward. For that reason, I think it's vital for us to know if movement is taking place objectively. In the first few sessions, I like to get to know my clients in addition to understanding their goals and what they want their life to look like when therapy has done its job. Every 6-8 sessions, I like to devote time to a discussion regarding the client's goals, how they are feeling so far in therapy and if we are moving toward these goals. this is an ongoing process, and it's so essential that if a client doesn't feel like they are making the progress they want, we change things; after all, therapy is meant to work for the client and not be a forever process!

Like I would hope for all therapists, I am empathetic, kind, and caring. In addition to this, I am also a very silly person with a sense of humor that will often show up in sessions as we are working to acknowledge the ups and downs of life. I find that in sessions, this helps lighten the fact that we often have higher expectations for ourselves than we might for anyone else; it helps my clients laugh and cut themselves some slack.

• Florida, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, MH19937

Over the years, even before earning my master's degree, I've worked in many settings with mental health. I have worked with children as young as three, teens, families, single parents, and families going through a divorce, conflict, and even abuse. One thing was similar in all of the settings and individuals I have worked with. Each one of them, to some degree, had experienced trauma. Working with people to help them heal from trauma was a passion that was truly ignited when I had the opportunity to go to New Orleans post-Katrina. I was astonished by how much trauma, hurt, and chaos was left after five years, especially within certain parts of the city. I knew from there that I had a passion for helping people who have been hurt heal from trauma and start to create a positive change within their own lives and in our society and culture. To heal from trauma truly, we mustn't involve just the heart, mind, and soul but also the body. I went on to earn my degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and become trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and a yoga teacher. I take a holistic approach to healing, incorporating talk therapy, humor, EMDR, and yoga techniques into my sessions.