Who Am I?

My Journey To Becoming A Social Worker.

As a clinical social worker, I am driven by a deep-seated passion for helping individuals navigate life's challenges and improve their overall well-being. My journey into this field stems from a genuine desire to make a meaningful impact on people's lives through direct, personalized support.
‍
I find great fulfillment in offering therapy and counseling services that empower clients to enhance their mental health and develop effective coping strategies. By providing a supportive, non-judgmental environment, I aim to guide individuals through their personal growth and healing processes.
‍
My approach combines evidence-based practices with compassionate care, ensuring that each client receives tailored support to meet their unique needs. Through this work, I continuously witness the resilience of the human spirit and the positive changes that can occur with proper support and intervention.

Ultimately, my role as a clinical social worker allows me to align my professional skills with my personal values, creating a career that is both rewarding and impactful.

Let’s get back on the horse!

When I was 14, I visited my aunt and uncle's home and enjoyed a ride on my aunt’s horse. The horse was spooked and ran against a fence, knocking me off.As soon as I landed on the ground, my father said, “When you get thrown off a horse, you get right back on.” He helped me return to the horse and had me sit on her for about 20 seconds. He told me it was a phrase he had heard long ago and had always applied to his life.

I had heard this phrase before, but neither he nor I understood the impact this phrase has on people’s lives. I always thought it was merely a saying that represents “Don’t let life get you down.” It wasn’t until I was in EMDR training that I understood what was happening during those 20 seconds.

I learned that trauma occurs in three stages: the beginning(the horse was spooked), the climax (I fell off), and the end (I was on the ground). By getting back on the horse, my brain could process what had happened and recognize that the horse didn’t present any danger. This immediate action helped prevent the traumatic memory from becoming deeply ingrained.

In EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)therapy, we focus on helping individuals process traumatic events so they can be integrated into the person’s life narrative without causing distress. The process involves recalling a traumatic memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, which helps the brain reprocess the memory.

My father’s instinctive advice to get back on the horse acted as a form of immediate exposure therapy. By returning to the horse quickly, I was able to complete the trauma cycle. The end of the event shifted from me being on the ground, feeling scared and vulnerable, to me being back on the horse, feeling a sense of control and safety. This quick resolution helped prevent the trauma from becoming stuck in my nervous system.

This experience illustrates the importance of promptly addressing traumatic events and how simple actions can profoundly affect our mental health. The principle of facing fears rather than avoiding them is central to many therapeutic approaches, including EMDR. By confronting the source of fear in a safe and controlled manner, we can help our brains process the event and reduce the long-term impact of trauma, even years later.