Psychotherapy
It is my great privilege to spend time with other people as they explore, learn, challenge, change, and accept themselves and their surroundings.
Psychotherapy (also referred to as “therapy” or “counseling”) is based on the intrinsic value of a human relationship and the inclusion of a set of strategies shown to improve the suffering experienced during any lifetime. Whether that suffering is driven by our external circumstances, or our internal emotions and biology, (or a combination of both), there is suffering that requires support and strategies in addition to our existing willpower and social circle.
Making the choice to come to therapy can be scary, confusing, and humbling - but the experience can be powerful. I have witnessed hundreds of people reflect on the struggles in their lives, and engage their willingness to push beyond the usual in order to develop new ways of thinking, behaving, feeling, and experiencing life.
What previous clients have said…
“Andrea was tough, super kind, smart, she helped me a lot.”
“This visit period has been my best experience with a therapist. Professional, effective, helpful but firm, friendly, and focused.”
“She is super, [this is] my second time with her.”
My Therapeutic Orientation and Modalities
I have found Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to be an effective and engaging approach for the majority of my client population. This approach to care includes increasing awareness about current habits in our thoughts, actions, emotions, and body sensations in order to identify patterns that might not be serving us. This approach’s value spans the majority of clinical mental health issues including: Anxiety (General, Panic, OCD, Social, Phobia), Depression (Major, Persistent), Trauma (Chronic, Acute), Adjustment to Circumstances, Substance Use Problems, ADHD, among others.
I engage CBT with flexibility balancing both change and acceptance approaches to our habits. With inclusion of specific interventions to address certain conditions including but not limited to: Motivational Enhancement Therapy, 12-Step Facilitation, Graduated Exposure, Exposure and Response Prevention, Mastering Adult ADHD, Mindfulness Based approaches, Acceptance and Commitment approaches, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy approaches. These modalities are offered in the context of a person-in-environment framework. This means that presenting habits are understood within the realities of a client’s life, including their experience in their family system and as members of the community.
Respecting Your Rights
You have the right to excellent therapeutic care regardless of your age (I can offer referrals to alternative providers for people < age 18), race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexuality, socioeconomic status (I can offer referrals to alternative providers if this is a barrier), religion, and politic.
You have the right to excellent therapeutic care delivered by a provider that is competent and experienced in treating the kinds of condition you may face. Thus, I will not offer you services if I do not feel that I can meet your needs at any point in the therapeutic experience.
You have the right to excellent therapeutic care that is mutually reviewed by patient and provider to ensure that progress is being made and that plans to reduce frequency of care, or finish a course of care, are overtly discussed.
You have the right to excellent therapeutic care that includes attention to the communal and global issues that may be impacting your symptoms, or may have contributed to the development of your symptoms, including awareness of issues related to your race, gender, sexuality, religion, etc.
Additional details provided once established as a client via my Policies and Procedures form.