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“Don’t turn away. Keep your gaze on the bandaged place. That’s where the light enters you.”      - Rumi

 

 

Group Practice Philosophical Approach

 

 

We are a collaborative group of skilled clinicians, each with a unique set of skills and approaches. We believe one of the most important qualities to delivering excellent service is being invested in our clients and positive outcomes.

We take pride in creating a space of positive and creative energy for our clients. It is imperative to meet each client at their own starting point, and we strive to provide a safe and trusting environment that is conducive to insightful awareness and positive change. As we are a collaborative group with shared values, we also want to partner and collaborate with our clients to determine their individual needs and develop achievable goals.

 

Our name Mindful Therapy Group is two-fold. Mindfulness in our client interactions reminds us to be completely present and non-judgmental in our therapeutic relationships. Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy is a useful tool which we teach our clients to become intimately connected to the problems they face, so that they may have a deeper understanding of their pain and use it as a platform for growth. 

 

Try this today as an experiment when you experience an uncomfortable feeling for a single minute:

“Breathing in, I feel this feeling, breathing out, I let it be”

You can shorten this to just saying “feel” on the in breath and “let be” on the out breath.

The instructions are simple, but they may not always be easy. Be kind and gentle with yourself through this process.

 

 

Therapy Approaches by Therapist

 

 

Derek Crain, MSW, LICSW

 

 I endorse a client-centered approach to therapy focusing on the personalized needs of each client. My theoretical orientation draws from multiple therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Strengths Based and Humanistic, as well as Mindfulness Therapy. I strive to create a safe and trusting environment that is conducive to insightful awareness and positive change. I believe that a therapeutic relationship should be supportive and draw on your strengths to overcome life’s barriers. All of my clients have unique strengths and identifying these strengths is an integral part of my practice. I feel that the therapeutic process should be collaborative and I like to envision myself as your guide helping you shape your individualized therapeutic treatment goals.

 

 

Yurika Gillum, MSW, LICSW

 

I believe each individual has strengths to grow and change for the better. I meet my clients where they are and tailor my approach based on their unique individuality and needs. I value a therapeutic practitioner-client relationship with sense of trust and safety. My therapeutic approach includes cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, strengths-based model and mindfulness therapy. I am here to support my clients through various challenges at various stages of life.

 

For children and adolescents, I incorporate age-appropriate play therapy by using therapeutic games, toys and books. PCIT (Parent Child Interaction Therapy) is available for children between the ages of 2 and 7 and their biological, adoptive and foster parent(s) or relatives. PCIT is an evidence-based treatment for young children with emotional or behavioral challenges that places the emphasis on improving the quality of parent-child relationship and changing parent-child interaction patterns.

 

 

Anne Grisham-Pleas, MC, LMHC

 

 

My therapeutic modalities are focused on cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, psycho education, unconditional positive regard and reality therapy. I also promote positive thinking and affirmations as a way to restructure the self defeating thinking patterns. I also encourage assertive and direct communication skills to empower oneself.

 

 

It is my goal to work collaboratively with my clients to support their individual goals for change. Through personal insight and self-discovery, therapy goals can be reached, and personal self-satisfaction levels can increase, and in turn quality of life can greatly improve.  I support my clients in working through their personal issues in therapy, and I believe the only way out of emotional distress is to wade through the distress to the other side where the healing journey begins.

 

 

Cynthia Shaw, MSW, LICSW 

 

 

My approach to working with clients is grounded in core social work values including the importance of human relationships, dignity and worth of the person, integrity, competence, social justice and service. I strive to 'meet you wherever you are at' with unconditional positive regard, respect for your perspective, and curiosity to uncover strengths, resources and courage you may not know you have. I believe you are the expert on your experience and concerns, and that healing is within your reach. Solutions reside in your insights, self-discovery, strengths and resiliency. My role is to serve as a skillful, respectful, compassionate therapist and collaborator, honored to accompany you on your journey toward personal goal achievement, self-realization, healing, and wholeness. Trust and a strong sense of emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual safety are essential to our work together.

 

Counseling concerns faced by folks with whom I work include dramatic or unexpected life change (i.e. job separation), exploration of personal and/or professional identity, depression, anxiety, loss (including death of a loved one), complex grief, mental health, substance abuse, dual diagnosis, and recovery from physical or psychological trauma. Specialty areas include Trauma-Informed Therapy and Treatment for Marijuana Dependency. Therapeutic Modalities I draw on include Cognitive Behavioral, Motivational Enhancement, Gestalt, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused, Family Systems, Group Therapy and Psycho Education. I continually re-assess my work through the lens of cultural relevancy, another cherished value.

 

 

Jason Macleod, MA, LMHC

 

Together I believe we can move forward on the right path for you and in my work I have integrated various theories such as Cognitive Behavioral, Humanistic, Attachment Theory, Existentialism and Psycho-Education to tailor my approach to what is applicable to each client and the issues they are focused upon.  I work collaboratively with the client to ensure their therapy stays relevant to their current needs.  

 

 

Jean Hammel, MA, LMHC

 

I use several complimentary methods to overcome anxiety and depression but my primary tools are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Positive Psychology and Mindfulness. Often times, the primary goal in the mental health field is to identify disorders and help clients cope with them. While this is a piece of my practice, I prefer to identify and amplify my clients’ strengths. I believe that eliminating depression and anxiety does not insure well-being alone. I strive to partner with my clients to attain a better quality of life, where they can flourish not just survive.