About Therapy
What to expect…
Walking into a new office, meeting a new person, to share your deepest hurts and concerns can feel intimidating and scary.
My goal is to help you feel welcome. I provide a calm, comfortable space for you to slowly relax and know you have found the space to navigate your concerns safely.
During our first session, I will gather information about you, your circumstances, and your goals. There is no pressure to elaborate or dive into any issues during this first meeting. Instead, my goal is for us to begin to develop the foundation we build together. After all, we don’t really know each other yet.
After your first session, I want you to leave having a renewed hope that you are in the right place, with the right therapist, and knowing a relationship will flourish, which will help you achieve your goals.
Your struggles…
I find joy in meeting my clients at all stages of life – childhood, adolescence, adulthood, parenting, relationships, and loss.
Each stage of life offers us different opportunities to build a foundation built on confidence and a deeper understanding of ourselves. So, as you journey through life, you have this foundation to continue to guide you along the way.
Fear, frustration, confusion, loss, grief, and trauma don’t have to define stages of your life. We will work together to use these challenges as opportunities for growth, understanding, and possibly forgiveness (for yourself or others).
There is hope on the other side.
The tension…
You feel torn if this is the right step for you.
We all wonder if someone will understand where we’ve been or what we’re struggling with.
You judge yourself for not feeling you can navigate these challenges alone but also worry about being judged by others. You fear opening up old wounds or showing your current ones.
I understand these hesitations. I’ve heard them from my clients and had them myself.
However, through my personal experiences and the opportunity to work with my clients, I know we all need guidance in our lives. Therapy can be the guidance you’ve been longing for – the door leading to the changes you’ve been wondering about on the other side.
I will sit with you while that door is closed, help you open it when you’re ready, and share the joy you discover on the other side.
The process…
Through my personal experiences and the ones my clients have graciously shared with me, I have discovered we pick up, learn, and carry beliefs as we journey through life.
Beginning from being a young child, the environment you are surrounded by, experiences that re-enforced your developing beliefs about yourself and the world around you, guided you through each new experience you encountered.
But what happens when your circumstances skewed those beliefs you began to form about yourself and the world? Reinforced by negative experiences, challenged your thoughts and behavior, influenced the choices you made?
This is the process we will explore.
How have your life experiences impacted you, shaped you, and informed your current concerns?
This discovery process is my greatest joy working with my clients. Watching as clients begin to connect the dots, gain insight, and create positive change, is an honor and privilege to witness.
My approach…
After meeting with my clients and identifying their goals and current needs, I assess different approaches I feel will guide the therapeutic process to achieve the best results.
While working with a spectrum of different aged clients, I have found direct and indirect approaches can be useful for all ages.
Grounded in a psychodynamic approach (in plain terms, considering your entire life), I use cognitive-behavioral interventions (including trauma-informed approaches), self-compassion theory, mindfulness, and meditation to address different stages of the process.
In addition, I also love to use sand tray and art therapy with clients across the age spectrum. Of course, I always ensure my clients are comfortable exploring interventions outside typical “talk therapy.” There is no pressure to use play therapy techniques with my clients who are not comfortable exploring their goals in this way.
I also may assign homework to motivated clients to continue developing their new skills or to take additional time processing emotions expressed during sessions.
Still wondering if you can trust ME?
Despite my clinical training and experience, it’s most important to me that I’m true to my genuine self.
Yes, training and experience are essential. They are things a potential client should consider when selecting someone to work with.
But then what?
As a therapist, I’m still a whole person. I’ve experienced life’s ups and downs. I’ve shared your same fears, confusion, and doubts.
Through the therapeutic process, it’s impossible for me to separate these parts of myself. I also feel it would be a disservice to my clients if I tried.
When working with me, you will discover that I’m human, too. Life’s challenges do not shield me due to my profession. Instead, I use my personal experiences, professional training, and experience to engage my clients in an authentic working relationship.
About Me
I am a woman….
My childhood was spent wondering if I was good enough to be accepted.
I was lost and tested all my boundaries as a teenager.
My journey to adulthood was filled with loss.
The pressures of the future were staring me down: job, apartment, graduate school…
And then there were love, marriage, career, and children.
Through it all, I was always asking myself…
Am I doing any of this right??
Divorce answered that question: Clearly, I wasn’t!
I was left wondering what life could be like after a failed marriage and two kids.
Divorce felt like the failure of my life, but I wondered…
Could it be a fresh start instead?
Can I rediscover my true self that slowly got lost along the way?
Through these experiences, I found myself at my lowest (could it get any lower?), but I managed to climb out of the holes of trauma, despair, longing, grief, and confusion.
It takes work – like real everyday work – but grace, forgiveness, confidence, connection, and trust remind me that it’s always worth climbing out of the hole!
When I’m not doing therapy…
I’m a single mom balancing the demands of my two boys and their interests.
You may find me at a youth sports game, volunteering at their school, attending church, or enjoying all Downtown Woodstock offers.
During downtime at home, I enjoy sitting outside watching my boys jump on the trampoline while our family dog, Stella, attempts to chase them around. I’ve learned that self-care is important to keep life balanced. So, during those precious quiet times, I have a creative side I like to explore. You may find me putting together floral arrangements for my home, updating my front door wreath, or doing chalk art (but I am by no means an artist). About two years ago, I discovered a local pottery class and knew I had to try it. Since then I was re-introduced to dancing and couldn’t believe I spent so much time NOT doing that! Now I make sure to make time for my new interests and to explore others!
Ready to step into your comfort zone?
I am here and ready to help!
Call me at (770) 371-2332 for a free 15-minute consultation where we will discuss your concerns and questions.
During this time, we will also ensure we both feel a therapeutic relationship is a good fit, and if we are, we can schedule your first session after your consultation.
I will be by your side every step of the way!
Currently under the clinical supervision of Danyale Weems, LCSW, RPT-S, EMDR Certified.
