Vilma Gisell Gaitan Valdizan LCSW

Having been born and raised in a third world country where mental health is easily overseen regardless of the significant impact it can have not only in a person's life but also in their family unit and society is what initially caught my attention to this career. I explored different areas of this field always returning to enjoying the work with individuals the most; the changes a person can make solely by working on themselves never ceases to amaze me. The moment things "click" and changes are starting to feel real makes all of the hard work worth it.

• Virginia, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 0904012365

Most of my experience has been working with individuals ranging from young adults to middle age adults dealing with daily life interference from depression and anxiety stemming from previous trauma. I have also worked with individuals facing significant life transitions to help them redefine their new roles, environments and get established. I have worked in a wide variety of settings, including outpatient and inpatient treatment. I find that using a holistic approach to address each person's challenges is the most effective since we are all unique and have different needs and preferences. My style includes using techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and other exploratory interventions. Most importantly, I believe that creating a safe and judgment free environment is key to allow people to work through the issues bringing them to seek therapy.