AvivA counseling center
Areas of Expertise
Psychotherapy
I utilize talk therapy to treat individuals for emotional problems or mental illnesses. I do this by helping a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome problems. My goal is to eliminate or control troubling symptoms so a person can function better and can increase their well-being and healing.
Life coaching
With life coaching we focus on setting and achieving goals. I help individuals make progress in their lives in order to attain greater fulfillment. I aim to set my clients on the track that leads them to their best self in work and life.
Play Therapy
Play therapy is a form of therapy primarily for children, using play as a means of communication and expression to address emotional and behavioral issues. Through guided play sessions, children can explore and process their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe and supportive environment.
Crisis Intervention
A crisis can refer to any situation in which the client perceives the inability to effectively problem-solve and/or cope. I provide a safe space for an individual in crisis to tell their story, I allow my clients to draw on their cognitive skills, instead of emotional skills, which can help return them to a calmer, less reactive mental space.
Skills Training
Although adults benefit from skills training, I utilize skills training to also improve a child’s ability to live, deal with feelings, cope with problems and work well with others. The training might include information about how to deal with life challenges. I take on a behavioral approach for teaching children age-appropriate social skills and competencies, including communication, problem solving, decision making, self-management, and peer relations.
My Approach
I begin with screening and assessing my clients, this involves determining the condition, strengths, treatment needs, and ultimate goals of my client. If applicable I then help by being a broker of resources. As a case manager I will take information gathered during the assessment and begin contacting services such as administration, insurance, community partners, child welfare organizations, and vocational rehabilitation when applicable. Then we will dive deep into developing case plans. The primary goal of whether the relationship is short-term or long-term, is to help the client find the resources they need to become and remain healthy and self-sufficient. The case plan is essentially a roadmap, created by me with extensive input from the client. After we have developed a plan we go into our sessions focusing on changing problematic behaviors, feelings, and thoughts by discovering the unconscious meanings and motivations. When working with children, I focus on learning the roles in developing both normal and abnormal behaviors. I believe that it's dysfunctional thinking that leads to dysfunctional emotions or behaviors. So by changing ones thoughts, one can change how they feel and what they do. I also make sure to include parents in their Childs progress by providing resources and checking in with them on a regular basis.