“I am a person first and then a therapist, which allows me to remain person-centered in building a rapport with clients that successfully translates to positive therapeutic outcomes.”
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
My path to becoming a therapist is somewhat of an accident. For as long as I could remember, I had always wanted to pursue a career in the law field. Once I enrolled in college, I was forced to evaluate myself and I realized that although I was an introvert, I enjoyed listening to others and demonstrated proficiency in helping others navigate situations that they were unable to navigate alone. I am a person first and then a therapist, which allows me to remain person-centered in building a rapport with clients that successfully translates to positive therapeutic outcomes.
What should someone know about working with you?
I try to make the intake process as simple and quick as possible because I have found that the information gathered during an intake is typically a fraction of a percentage of what has brought the client to therapy. The first few sessions that I spend with a client are focused on getting to know the client, building a therapeutic rapport, and learning what they want me to know about their stories and their goals. I then make a tentative diagnosis and share/discuss that information with the client. I then work with the client to develop a treatment plan with measurable, attainable, and focused goals.
What do you do to continue learning and building competencies as a provider?
As a clinical therapist, I always make sure to engage in continuing education that will keep me grounded in the basics of my profession. Beyond that, I like to pursue educational training opportunities that focus on current events, changing trends in mental health, and professional areas where I seek to grow. Often, I participate in training that is not in my focus areas so that I can step outside of my own comfort zone and continue to grow as a person and professional.
“The first few sessions that I spend with a client are focused on getting to know the client, building a therapeutic rapport, and learning what they want me to know about their stories and their goals.”