Mental Health Counselor
I am a clinician at our Foxborough clinic who provides therapy services!
Veterans, civilians, and children clients alike, struggling with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and in need of services, are my ideal clients. Regardless of their nationality or background, I am willing to work with clients of all ages, from six years old to the elderly, as long as they speak English and have a mental health disorder.
Children and adolescents seeking treatment for anxiety, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia, and panic attacks, mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder, conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder, are also my ideal clients.
Military veterans who suffer from trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance use problems, reliving traumatic events, and thoughts of suicide are also my ideal clients. Civilian adults struggling with PTSD, anxiety, major depressive disorders, trauma, and sleep disturbances are also my clients.
Each population and client is unique, and their treatment is tailored to their specific needs. Understanding that each client has their own set of needs and goals is the starting point for building their treatment plan. Regardless of the presenting symptoms being treated from a particular disorder, the client needs a therapist who will be an active listener, non-judgmental, and empathetic. The therapist must be trustworthy, honest, and dedicated to helping the client meet their therapeutic goals. The therapist must treat them with dignity and respect, not as a symptom or disorder.
Clients also need a therapist who will hold them accountable and challenge them to believe in themselves. The therapist should promote autonomy and self-esteem. More importantly, clients need goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound, which should be included in their treatment plan.
As a therapist, my client’s treatment revolves around their presenting symptoms and information shared during their initial counseling session. Establishing a rapport and therapeutic relationship based on trust, openness, and honesty is paramount. In all therapeutic settings, I ensure each client has a safe space to discuss their concerns and disorders without judgment.
Clients gain a deeper understanding of their emotions and have an open forum to discuss their emotions, behavior, and thoughts as it relates to their disorder. As the therapist, I provide support while we work towards finding a solution that helps them minimize or manage their mental health symptoms.
In therapy, clients learn about various coping skills and how to use them effectively in times of need, tailored to their specific disorder. They discover strategies that can enhance their self-confidence and address mental health challenges such as past trauma, depression, anxiety, and intense emotions. Together, the client and I collaboratively create a client-led, achievable, and measurable treatment plan. This plan serves as a guide for both the client and the therapist, reducing the risk of unintentional harm to the client, which is always in their best interests.
A treatment plan serves as a roadmap for clients, helping them achieve their treatment goals and objectives. It outlines clear goals, measurable objectives, and strategies to track progress while acknowledging and addressing the client’s unique strengths and challenges. As a therapist, I employ various therapeutic practices to support clients, but the most effective approach is to foster their commitment. As the client, your priority is my utmost concern, and ensuring you can manage your symptoms is of paramount importance. During counseling sessions, our focus will be solely on you and your needs. Within a safe and confidential space, you can express yourself freely. To protect both you and me, we will discuss confidentiality, boundaries, and informed consent.
Throughout counseling sessions, you will learn to identify symptoms related to your presenting problem and develop coping strategies to manage and reduce them. Ultimately, your goal is to enhance your quality of life, improve your functionality, and strengthen your relationships. Whether it involves confronting and overcoming trauma, making behavioral changes, developing coping mechanisms, managing stress, or addressing any mental health-related concerns, I am here to assist and support you in your endeavors.
In my seventeen years of military counseling, I’ve had the privilege of working with personnel from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and genders. I’ve addressed a wide range of counseling topics, including mental health, substance abuse, trauma, and combat loss. My empathetic and active listening skills have been instrumental in all my counseling sessions. As a combat veteran, I witnessed the profound impact of mental health, substance use, and trauma on individuals, which has made me well-equipped to provide compassionate support to those in need. I take pride in being able to guide and support those suffering from any disorder. After retiring from military service, I encountered veterans struggling with mental illness and substance use disorder, and I realized there was a need for clinicians who solely focused on helping those in need.
After transitioning from military life to civilian life, I secured a job at a facility that exclusively catered to private insurance clients. My role involved counseling civilian personnel of diverse ages, spanning from the youngest 14-year-olds to older individuals. These clients hailed from various backgrounds and regions across the globe. Notably, there was a small veteran population, and I served as their group facilitator, individual counselor, and provided counseling to both service members and non-service members. As a counselor at that facility, I empowered my clients with the necessary tools and education to effectively manage their symptoms and attain their personal goals.
After relocating, I joined another treatment facility that accepted multiple insurance plans. The clientele consisted solely of civilians with mental health and substance abuse issues. I facilitated two mental health groups and four substance abuse groups weekly, in addition to conducting individual counseling sessions with each of my clients weekly. The clients’ ages ranged from sixteen to mid to late fifties, and they were either homeless, incarcerated, or self-referrals, regardless of gender. Each client presented unique mental health or substance use concerns. Regardless, I tailored their treatment to meet their individual needs and goals. As a therapist, I encouraged clients to work on their self-esteem, develop a deeper sense of self-worth, cultivate self-compassion, and cultivate self-motivation. These strategies would help them overcome the challenges of their mental health condition and pave the way for a sustainable quality of life.