The process for starting psychotherapy begins prior to your first appointment. With all new clients, Cassandra provides a free phone consultation where she can get a better idea of how she can best help you. You will then set up a time to meet. During your initial visit, you will further discuss what brings you to therapy, identify your goals, and Cassandra will provide recommendations for a plan to meet your goals. It is important for your progress that all aspects of treatment be collaborative and that both therapist and client are actively engaged in this process.
EMDR Therapy
In addition to traditional "talk therapy", Cassandra is a trained Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist. EMDR is one of the few recommended treatments by the American Psychology Association to treat trauma. EMDR helps take disturbing or traumatic life experiences and move them to more adaptive and resolved memories in our brains. The new associations created through EMDR can result in reduction or elimination of emotional distress and increase the development of new insights and understanding about yourself. EMDR will not take away a life experience, instead it helps clients have a new relationship with it that is far less painful. If you are interested in learning more about EMDR therapy you can read more at EMDR International Association.
Supervision
Cassandra is an experienced supervisor who has provided supervision and consultation for many early career psychologists. She works with her supervisees focusing on her areas of specialization as well as issues pertaining to therapists starting in the field. She believes the most important part of supervision is helping her supervisees find their own voice as a therapist while providing support and guidance towards that goal. Please feel free to contact Cassandra for more information regarding supervision opportunities.