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What’s the most profound, insightful, or interesting thing you’ve learned as a mental health professional?
My career trajectory has lent itself to various approaches to the therapeutic relationship. Much of my interactions have been a non-traditional setting, less of a one on one office environment. When working on outreach I learned that speaking with someone at their street location for 15 minutes can be just as powerful as a full hour session in an office. Therapy can look very different from what we imagine or how it is traditionally portrayed, and often can be just as effective.
How does collaboration with other providers play into your work?
Throughout my career I have always worked as part of an interdisciplinary team. I have always found that talking out a case, especially when particularly challenging can open up new approaches and avenues to benefit the client. Ensuring that one has all the information about the client so as to view them from all angles is a key to robust treatment.
In what ways have your personal experiences influenced your work with your clients?
Mental health has always been in the forefront of my life since I was a child. Many members of my family have struggled with bi-polar disorder including my grandmother who lived with us for about 10 years. This is what brought me to the field and inspired me to want to provide support for those struggling with their mental health. This has given me an inherent patience and compassion for those with mental health issues and my clients in particular.
Specialties
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.
Addiction
Regular involvement with a substance or activity in a compulsive, hard to control way that often has harmful consequences. Often refers to substance use, but can include compulsive behaviors such as sex, gambling, or shopping.
Bipolar disorder
Characterized by alternating symptoms of depression and mania. During more extreme episodes, depression may lead to the point of suicidal ideation and attempts while extreme bouts of mania are marked by impulsive behavior, lack of sleep, elevated esteem, and even psychosis.
Narcissism
Narcissism entails an excessive interest in and over-inflated image of self. It is characterized by selfishness, sense of entitlement, and need for praise. Oftentimes ingrained in one’s personality (i.e., narcissistic personality disorder), narcissism generally develops as a coping mechanism to protect oneself from various insecurities and past traumas.
General Expertise
Relationship Issues
Refers relationship issues with a partner or spouse. Can include issues related to relationship distress, relationship satisfaction, communication, intimacy, etc.
Race & Cultural Identity
Challenges around race and cultural identity vary enormously, including issues related to discrimination, racism, and intergenerational trauma.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety or social phobia is fear of social situations or a fear of interacting with people other than close friends and family. Social anxiety can be persistent, intense, and debilitating, greatly affecting daily life.
Anger management
It's normal to experience anger at times, but for some, it becomes so frequent, intense, or difficult to control that it negatively affects their life. Anger management is a structured therapeutic approach toward reducing one’s anger to a point where more appropriate coping and/or conflict management skills are used. Beliefs and thoughts leading toward anger outbursts are explored while healthy coping and interpersonal skills are put into practice.
Codependency
Involves a person sacrificing their needs to meet the needs of others. Their thoughts and actions center on a significant other, spouse, friend, or relative. Becomes an issue when relationships are unbalanced and unhealthy.
In-Network Insurance
Aetna
All Savers Insurance
Cigna
Nippon Life Insurance Company of America
Optum
United Healthcare
United Medical Resources
Fees
$150
First Session
$150
Couples Therapy
$150
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Couples Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Strength Based Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
The Gottman Method
Training / Certifications
Mindfulness, CBT -- CUCS
Licensure
NY, LCSW, 086062
Education
Masters of Social Work, Clinical Practice with Individuals and Families, Hunter College
Bachelors of Arts, Psychology, University of Vermont
Work History
I have a wide range of experience in the field and have worked with diverse populations for the duration of my career. My recent role as a Director has given me the opportunity to train and teach staff in clinical interventions. I have also been able to provide crisis intervention, non traditional therapy, and general mental health assessment as well. Each week I also run a clinical meeting that involves the clinical management staff as well as the on site psychiatrists. We discuss difficult cases and clinical interventions that would best benefit our most challenging and vulnerable clients. For the ten months I have branched out to traditional one on one therapy. This has been extremely rewarding and is part of the reason that I am looking to transition into a therapist role full time. I have enjoyed exercising my clinical skills in a more traditional therapeutic dynamic.
Location
952 Saint Marks Ave, Brooklyn, 11213, NY