Kelley NormanLMHC

When I work with clients, I clarify and validate client's concerns so they feel accepted and are able to handle life's challenges. I specialize in evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and using principles and interventions of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I have worked in different therapy settings, providing compassionate, non-judgmental counseling so client's like yourself can start feeling good about themselves and the trajectory of their life.

Thank you for thinking about choosing counseling services with me. Before you begin what is called "tele-health" counseling, you will need to have a few pieces of information ready before we begin our meeting: 1) Have a PICTURE ID ready to show me for this first meeting only. 2) Know the ADDRESS of where you are holding your tele-health meetings for every session. The reason I need this information is because if there is an emergency, I need to know where you are located so I may send help. Please be in a location that is SECURE and PRIVATE just as you would if you were coming physically to my office. Please be dressed in appropriate attire. Discourage interruptions by others during your sessions. Right now, this time is all about you so let's make the conditions conducive for a productive counseling experience. 3) Know the TELEPHONE NUMBER where you can be reached during each session just in case we get disconnected. If our internet gets disconnect, wait for me to call you back. I will attempt to call you back for the duration of the session; and, if we don't connect and there are no safety issues, then you and I will connect another time. 4) BE SURE TO REVIEW the "consent forms" at Choosing Therapy (CT) or else the CT platform will not allow us to start the meeting at all. Also, it's a good idea to review this document as it informs you of your rights and responsibilities in treatment. Finally, you may expect the following interaction in our first meeting: 1) I will ask you a few preliminary questions about your personal background across different domains of your life. This step will take about 30 minutes and we may return to it at other times for more detail, but I just want to get a general sense of who you are. 2) Then I will ask you what brought you into counseling today and we will continue our discussion from there. 3) Think about what you might want to accomplish in counseling with me. If you do not know, don't worry. I will help you figure that out. Treatment goals are helpful because they keep counseling on track; treatment goals help us monitor progress; and your insurance company requires that I have these goals in your medical record in order to justify payment of services. 4) And finally, you may decline to answer any question I ask you; or you may answer my question in a superficial manner or in great detail. It is up to you. This is your counseling session and your life. I will respect your limits and not make any dubious assumptions if you choose not to share. Sometimes people just aren't ready to share everything or maybe the situation is no longer relevant. In fact, I never worry about how clients' answer questions in the initial sessions, because if it is important, it will come up again. Use counseling in most any way that will help you get what you need. I've had people read poetry, sing songs, meditate, problem-solve issues, ventilate about their problems, learn coping skills, process trauma, and learn new ways of communicating and/or inviting others in who can help. The only thing I ask is that you treat me respectfully and be honest and authentic in your interactions with me. We'll talk and see what's going on--you needn't go it alone. Reach out and keep reaching out because I am more than willing to take your hand. OK. I hope to see you soon. Best wishes, Kelley Norman, MA, LMHC

I have a core of mental health literature that I go back to time and time again, but I'd say one of the most impressive and influential books that I enjoy sharing with clients or reviewing for myself is John Gottman's book, "The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work." This book and his body of work in general is applicable whether I am working with couples, individuals, families, and persons in recovery. First the language is accessible. It's written for the lay person, not a counselor's book, though the research and theory are sound. It's like Dr. Gottman is talking to you, not at you. He has snippets of conversations of his clients he studied in his "Love Lab" that all of my clients, who read the book say, "That sounds like me!" (Testify! Your prospective therapist--that would be me--is not perfect! I'm just more likely to try the interventions and I am hoping you will too.) Second, Dr. Gottman's work is relationally-based. If there is one thing we can say that human beings have in common is a need for a relationship; or, at least, we need to make the relationships we are in, work. You are never not in a relationship of some kind, so it is imperative that you know the dynamics and impact of yours on yourself and others; and you need to know how to nurture and protect them. Dr. Gottman does a great job of providing us with a relational and psychological roadmap in order to do this. He doesn't just tell us what makes a good relationship, but he tells us HOW to create a relationship using skills and principles to guide us while honoring our personalities and personal histories. His advice and research can be used across domains of life with different relationships like your supervisor, your friend, your partner, and, of course, with your best friend--yourself. If you work with me, I may not always reference Dr. Gottman, but you can be sure we will be using some of his principles. His work will enlighten you and empower you to manage your negative emotions, identify problems at their core, and inspire you to start dreaming about a better future again. It's a great little book with a lot of great, graspable ideas that work. (Did I mention that the chapters are short and the exercises are powerful and even fun? They are.)

• Washington, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LH60644873

I am a licensed mental health counselor (L.M.H.C) who has been providing counseling services to adult patients with a variety of mental health presentations for 15 years. I worked independently for seven (7) years in Massachusetts and then moved to Washington State to be closer to my family, working at an outpatient mental health clinic with populations of different socio-economic status. The best job I ever had! I am a Boston College graduate with a Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology with a licensure to practice in Washington State. I've worked at different levels of care including inpatient mental health hospitals, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, suboxone/methadone clinics, outpatient adult clinics, and crisis services. No matter where I worked, I made sure to validate client experiences and concerns in order to help them feel good about themselves and change the trajectory of their lives. I feel very proud of the work I have done over the years, and I would like to continue this work with you in partnership with Choosing Therapy, an organization with an excellent reputation in the mental health field. Finally, I received my undergraduate degree from Howard University where I studied 19th century African American women's literature and wrote proposals for seminars centered around multicultural curriculum. I enjoyed my studies, but I turned to mental health counseling where I have been ever since. I am glad I did. Thank you for choosing to work with me.