Areas of Expertise
General Counselling
General counseling is typically short-term with a specific goal of addressing an identified issue(s). This may occur after a loss or when having trouble negotiating a change or transition in life, e.g., engagement, new parent, non-complicated or complex grief/loss, or medical issues. At times coaching and counseling intersect here. Additionally, counseling may be time limited by insurance or other financial limitations. There are other issues that may only fall under the "category" of counseling that may very well require long-term sessions due to a prolonged need for clinical support through a life transition. We will discuss the difference during your assessment and planning session.
Cognitive Behavioural and Dialectical Behavioural Therapies
CBT and DBT are similar therapies used to treat specific emotional behavioral issues, such as depressive disorders, personality disorders, and stress disorders. Such therapies may be required for 6 - 12 months, and in some instances throughout the remainder of one's life to prevent major symptoms from creating significant life's discomfort and disturbance. This is psychotherapy, not the talk therapy common in counseling and coaching. These therapies often require co-therapy with medication and various specific clinical techniques, such as Mindfulness, EDMR, and Psychoneurological exercises and skill training with the client. I am highly trained, skilled, experienced in providing these higher level techniques with clients.
My Approach
My professional approach to clinical practice is to provide an evidence-based client-centered solution-focused eclectic application of several psychotherapeutic theories that include humanism, existentialism, feminism, trans and queer theory, and psychoneuroscience to assist clients in discovering, accepting, and living their truth with authenticity, resilience, and courage.
Shifaa means "good health" in the Arabic language. IntellectualSoul is my personally developed paradigm and base of care, to assist those I provides with the skills and knowledge to bring intersection between their minds and how they think (the Intellectual) and how they feel (the Soul) to develop good emotional and intellectual health (Shifaa).
I am an active member of the National Association of Social Workers, World Professional Association of Transgender Health, National Queer & Trans Therapist of Color, and Human Rights Campaign. I am licensed by the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners and the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Counselors. And I hold professional certifications as a Grief Recovery Method ® Specialist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. By my maintaing membership and credentialing with the aforementioned those choosing me as a provider can be assured I am always actively growing in the knowledge of the ethical application of current evidence-based best practices for treating and responding to their clinical and professional needs.
