11005 Spain Rd. NE, Suite 10, Albuquerque, NM 87111, US
Welcome to Inner Wisdom Counseling
AREAS OF SPECIALTY AND PRACTICE
- Mood difficulties including depression, bipolar disorder, or other mood problems
- Anxiety including general anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, or other anxiety
- Experiences with trauma, sexual assault, unwanted sexual contact, childhood abuse, intimate partner violence, family concerns, or PTSD
- Pregnancy-related, postpartum or infertility issues
- Lesbian/ Gay/ Bisexual/ Pansexual/ Queer/ Questioning Issues
- Transgender issues; Gender Fluidity; Non-binary Gender
- Chronic health issues such as autoimmune disorders or chronic pain
- Body image issues
- Learning how to cope with experiences of discrimination based on gender, culture, race, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, size, or other identity.
- Understanding the intersection of identities and how they impact presenting concerns.
MY APPROACH TO TREATMENT
Although I have expertise as a psychologist and I can share that expertise with you, I believe that you are the expert of your life. You have learned how to survive thus far, you know yourself best, and you already have many strengths. You may feel that some of your coping skills are not working for you and you need to develop some new ones. I believe that we all have a wise voice within us and it is a matter of learning how to access it. I can assist you to learn how to access your own inner wisdom. That may require new ways of thinking or coping. You are the one who is capable of making those changes.
After we determine the goals that are most appropriate for you, we will work on attaining those goals. Of course, we can modify treatment goals as need be. I also ask that you collaborate in treatment by being an active participant, trying out new ideas for coping or ways of thinking, and providing ongoing feedback about how the therapeutic relationship is going. It is important to me that you are getting what you need out of coming to counseling.
Treatment takes into account the context, environmental, social, political, cultural, and familial factors and systems that may be contributing to your presenting concerns and any coping strategies that may not be working for you.
I was trained in a scientist practitioner model and utilize an integrative approach. This means that I use a range of techniques that are empirically supported (e.g., informed by current scientific research in the field of psychology) and are modified to be specific to your goals and needs. Examples include cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness techniques, motivational interviewing, and feminist multicultural techniques.
Feminist Multicultural Therapy is trauma-informed, examines intersectional identities, and takes into account the sociopolitical environment including gender socialization (for all genders) and how it influences presenting concerns. Techniques include examining oppression or experiences of discrimination, an assessment of trauma, identification of strengths, empowerment, and sociopolitical analysis.
Primary goals include collaborating together to:
- Reduce problematic symptoms.
- Identify strengths
- Establish positive coping skills.
