Margaret Shouse (She/Her/Hers)

Anxiety can creep up on us and make us feel like we are out of control. Through my own experience with anxiety and with my experience as a therapist, I first meet the client where they are at and truly learn how anxiety is effecting each person that I work with. I work on mindfulness and cognitive techniques to help slow down the racing thoughts, and make life more manageable and enjoyable. I also encourage clients to treat their anxiety with compassion and understanding.

Having worked in addiction centers in my previous work, I have learned how hard individuals are on themselves when battling drug addiction. I practice from a harm reduction standpoint. Meaning, possible relapses are meant with compassion and understanding. I know it can be extremely difficult to quit cold turkey, and I want my clients to feel that if any slip ups happen, that we can talk about it and work on how to start again. Relapse is not a failure.

Depression can make a person feel stuck and not sure what the first step is. I like to help my clients take small reasonable steps to help combat depression and to start to get clients to get out of this rut. I always try to have my clients challenge their negative thoughts related to depression with kind thoughts and how to use compassion for themselves during this time.

I believe that every client's story is different and should be treated as such. The best practice I have found is Eclectic Therapy, meaning I do not only use one approach within my sessions. I take my time to get to know my clients and understand where they are coming from, so that I can choose the best approach that works for them. That usually consists of a variety of different strategies in order to treat each person as unique individuals.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a approach I use with all of my clients. I do not want clients to view their thoughts and emotions in a negative way, which can lead to serious negative self talk and diminish their chance to grow. I want my clients to find acceptance in their thoughts and emotions without judgement on themselves, and work together to move forward and to be in the present moment.

I believe that Solution Focused Brief Therapy helps clients rely on their strengths on how to move forward, and strays away from highlighting their past and what they are not able to achieve. This approach emphasizes that clients are experts of their own lives and that they do have what it takes to make the changes they desire.

I believe that clients should not have to feel negatively about their thoughts and emotions that make them who they are. With Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) I encourage clients to accept their thoughts and emotions without judgement, and to work on moving forward with change in the present moment. I want the clients energy to be put into healing and moving towards change rather than dwelling on the negative.

Solution Focused Brief Therapy is an approach I use that helps clients focus on their strengths and resources to move towards their goals . I want my clients to know that they are the expert of their own lives, and that they do already have what it takes to implement change. I collaborate with clients to brainstorm realistic reachable goals they can make in order to get them to where they want to be. I help my clients focus on the present and future in order to help them achieve their goals.