I believe the Center is an oasis of humanity. It has consistently provided me with the opportunity to develop progressive mental health approaches while walking the path of healing with members of the LGBTQ+ community.
My job involves providing individual therapy that focuses on trauma resolution while discovering meaning in an individuals’ life experiences.
It previously worked on Skid Row in Los Angeles where I had the opportunity to develop protocols for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
Many of the Skid Row clients I partnered with were members of the LGBTQ+ community. This, combined with my own life experiences, sparked the desire to focus on bringing progressive mental health approaches— including EMDR and Transpersonal Psychology—to a community that has a history of being underserved.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago, I transitioned completely to doing virtual sessions which was challenging. But through consistent connection with other EMDR therapists, and lots of meditation, I have found that individuals are better able to process trauma in the safety of their homes. My perception that I was further away from them because of distance was just that. This has led to a deep sense of connection which is foundational for the journey of healing for all involved.
There is a particular point when processing traumas with EMDR where they say something like, “I just realized that happened a long time ago.” It’s always a beautiful moment that we celebrate.
_____________________________________________________
Hometown: Plainfield, NJ
Year Started Working at Center: 2018
Staff Position: Mental Health Clinician III (LSCW)
Pronouns: He/Him
____________________________________________________