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How do you determine therapy goals with clients? What does that process look like?
I determine therapy goals based on my client's symptoms and proven empirical interventions. The client and I review their diagnosis and the symptoms they reported. Once the client agrees or confirms the symptoms; as a team, we work together to develop an effective treatment plan.
If there was one thing you wish people knew about the therapy experience who might be hesitant to try it, what would that be?
Going to counseling or seeing a mental health professional does not mean you are crazy. It means you care about yourself enough to address your total well-being.
How does collaboration with other providers play into your work?
I will collaborate with medical doctors to ensure the symptoms the client is experiencing are not related to any underlining medical condition. I will work with the psychiatrist for medication management as well as a psychologist for neuro-assessments. I believe mental health needs a holistic approach to healing.
Specialties
Work Stress
Workplace issues are a common source of stress and can include interpersonal conflict, communication problems, gossip, harassment, discrimination, low motivation and job satisfaction, performance issues, and poor job fit.
Mood disorders
Mood disorder is a broad term used to include the different types of depressive and bipolar disorders, all of which affect mood. With a mood disorder, your moods may range from extremely low to extremely high or irritable.
Premarital counseling
Premarital counseling is a specialized form of therapy that helps prepare couples for marriage. Although it is helpful for struggling couples, it may be useful for anyone looking to build a stronger foundation moving into marriage. Couples may explore considerations around healthy communication, merging families, where to live, children, occupation, finances, maintaining a sense of self, supporting one another, and the wedding itself.
Trauma
Trauma is the result of experiencing a perceived, extremely distressful event. Although the stress threshold for each person differs, meaning that each person considers and experiences trauma differently, it is an event that tops one’s threshold. It exceeds one’s ability to cope or emotionally process. Symptoms may include shock, anxiety, confusion, hopelessness, feeling disconnected, mood swings, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.
Behavioral Issues
Behavioral disorders involve a pattern of disruptive behaviors that cause problems in school, at home, and in social situations. Can include hyperactivity, impulsivity, defiant behavior, chronic patterns of aggression, defiance, disruption, and/or hostility.
General Expertise
Depression
Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean nervousness, worry, or self-doubt. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear.
Loss/Grief
Grief is a reaction to an emotionally significant loss and often comes with symptoms of depression or anxiety. These symptoms can remain intense and last for a long time after a loss, making it difficult to move forward with a healthy lifestyle.
ADHD
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) causes a hard time focusing attention and controlling restless or impulsive behavior. People with ADHD might have emotional outbursts, be forgetful, and/or find it difficult to stay organized.
Abuse/Survivors of abuse
Abuse includes any significant mistreatment along the lines of psychical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and neglect. Survivors of abuse may experience negative thoughts and feelings, flashbacks, distrust of others, social withdrawal, self-harm, and increased likelihood of developing mental health and substance abuse issues.
Fees
$200
First Session
$200
Family Therapy
$200
Couples Therapy
$75
Group Therapy
$200
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Individual Session
Retreats
Couples Session
Family Session
Group Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Children (5-12)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness Practices
Strength Based Therapy
Existential Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Multicultural Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Training / Certifications
Clinical Traumatologist
Licensure
MI, LPC, 6401012784
Education
Ph.D., CES-Trauma and Crisis, Walden University
Master's of Science, Clinical Mental Health, University of Phoenix
BSW, Social Work, Florida Atlantic University
Work History
Dr. Nakpangi Thomas is a professor at both Southern New Hampshire University and Adler University in the Counseling Education and Supervision Program. She is a professional counselor for the State of Michigan, Clinical Traumatologist, the owner of a small private practice, the immediate Past-President of the Michigan Counseling Association, and host of “In Session” an online Podcast for Detroit’s WJZZ Radio. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Walden University in Counseling Education and Supervision with a concentration in Trauma and Crisis, a master’s degree in Community Mental Health from the University of Phoenix (2011), and a Bachelors of Social Work from Florida Atlantic University (2000) as well as an Associate’s of Arts in Psychology. She is an active member of the American Counseling Associate, Association for Humanistic Counseling, Counselors for Social Justice, Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors, Michigan Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors, Michigan Counseling Association, and Chi Sigma Iota Honors Society. Nakpangi has over 25 years of experience in the behavioral/mental health field working with youth and adults from multiple racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Dr. Thomas has worked to reunify families by providing resources to the parents, advocating for the children, biological parents, and foster parents as well as participating in court hearings to ensure the safe welfare of children in the foster care system. She has conducted life and social skills groups, taught health and wellness, organized career readiness workshops, and provided opportunities for the youth to give back to the community through volunteerism. Additionally, she has provided group and individual counseling with youth that were sexually abused.
Location
15855 Ilene St., Detroit, 48238, MI