Kayoua Thao LCSW

I like to provide psycho-education and name the things you're going through so that it's less scary and confusing. I give you control and responsibility over your situation. Through warmth, space, validation, and gentle challenging, you can walk away feeling confident about our collaboration, and just uncomfortable enough to make changes in your life. I read a lot so I make book recommendations and references, and I give homework weekly: something to think about, journal prompts, practice a coping skill or a behavior change, a worksheet, or simply tracking your moods for our next session. Overall, you will be empowered throughout the process.

CBT: helps one develop change by observing and reframing negative thoughts that could be impacting one's mood and behaviors. DBT: through mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness, one can manage their big feelings, reduce self-harming behaviors and suicidal ideation, and have improved relationships. CPT is a manualized treatment for PTSD and trauma-related concerns, which helps one develop healthy thinking patterns about the effects of their trauma(s) without requiring a detailed trauma account. I integrate mindfulness to help tap into areas not often accessed such as bodily sensations, emotions and thoughts, which I called internal check-in's or awareness.

• California, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 108469