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 Are you thinking about starting therapy for yourself or a loved one? An important aspect of that decision is finding a therapist who can connect with you. Every therapist has a style and approach that is as unique to them as their thumbprint. We recently asked our Thrive therapists to describe their approach in therapy. We invite you to read and consider if this may be the help you have been looking for. Dr. Maria Fowlks: My therapeutic approach looks to help individuals become more understanding, accepting and compassionate in dealing with themselves and those they love. I believe in creating a safe and non-judgmental space for my clients. I strive to make them feel comfortable and supported throughout our sessions. My goal as a therapist is to support my clients on their journey towards improved mental well-being, and to empower them with the tools and insights to navigate life's challenges. I do this by taking an integrative approach to therapy. This means that I draw from various evidence-based therapeutic modalities and techniques, tailoring my approach to meet their unique needs. I also recognize the importance of cultural sensitivity and strive to create a culturally inclusive environment. I respect and value diversity and am committed to understanding and addressing the unique challenges clients may face based on their cultural background. I work alongside my clients, supporting, guiding, and rooting them on as they brave the challenges life can sometimes bring. My clients are as much my teachers as I am theirs. My clients never cease to amaze and inspire me with their strength, courage, and resilience. Dr. Andrea Seldomridge: I like to strike a balance between structured and unstructured. I often will bring in tools that may help them with what they’re coming in for, such as depression or anxiety. However, I always want to meet the client where they’re at and utilize a more conversational and organic approach. Molly Llamas, AMFT: I bring my authentic self to all sessions by incorporating humor, curiosity, empathy, and culture, inviting you to bring your whole self, too. My approach includes a multicultural lens that allows me to understand and honor all of my clients’ needs and stories by meeting them where they are, while also challenging them to step out of their comfort zones through a non-judgemental approach. Ying Ying Shiue, LPCC: I like making connections with my clients, so I incorporate a lot of real-life experiences and humor into my style of therapy. I’m kind, caring, and compassionate while also being realistic and honest. If you’re making a mistake, then I’ll tell you that, but then I’ll also tell you about the time when I made that same mistake, and we can laugh about it! Abbey Stewart, AMFT: I would love for clients to know that I have tools and knowledge that I use to support a client in exploring their questions or processing experiences they have. Ultimately, every person is the expert of their own experiences, and supporting people in their therapeutic journey is a great privilege. Kim Macias, APCC: I strive to provide a warm and nurturing space for you to identify your needs and goals. I approach therapy as a partnership between me and my clients to help you reach your goals, and I strive to create a space where you can be yourself. Jennifer Gonzalez, LMFT: I utilize various evidence-based therapeutic modalities as I believe the therapeutic approach should meet the client’s needs, not vice versa. In treatment, I always operate under a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive lens. At Thrive, we have an amazing team of therapists. We take a positive, client-centered therapy approach focused on connecting with our clients and building skills to help them manage their symptoms more effectively. We offer in-person and video sessions and group therapy for preteens and teens. We would love to hear from you at 858-342-1304 so that we can support your family! The next therapist I am excited to introduce you to is Dr. Andrea Seldomridge, who is currently a psychological associate (PSB94026434) working closely with me as I have the privilege of supervising her work (Dr. Erica Wollerman, PSY25614). She is one of the most intentional and detail oriented therapists that I have ever worked with and brings a depth of knowledge and understanding to her clinical work that is pretty impressive! She has rare new client openings even in afternoons!  Who do you LOVE working with? I love working with children, teens, and young adults. Getting to walk alongside clients and witness both their struggles and growth is a true privilege. As a queer therapist, working with members of the queer community is something near and dear to me. I love having conversations around what it means to develop a queer identity! Additionally, I love working with folks experiencing anxiety, school stressors, religious issues, interpersonal resolution challenges, identity development, and transitions into young adulthood. What should potential clients know about you and your style in therapy? I like to strike a balance between structured and unstructured. I often will bring in tools that may help them with what they’re coming in for, such as depression or anxiety. However, I always want to meet the client where they’re at and utilize a more conversational and organic approach. What is your favorite parenting tip or recommendation? Less is more! Often it can be so hard seeing kids and teens about to make mistakes. Instead of stepping in each time, allowing them to make mistakes can be such a great way to help them grow, mature, and build confidence. What advice would you like to have received when you were younger? Whatever you are anxious about likely won’t matter in a year, so you will get through it! What do you like to do in your free time? I love to run (aka go on “gentle jogs”), throw a lacrosse ball around, and watch a movie and make popcorn each weekend. At Thrive, we take a positive, client-centered approach to therapy that is focused on creating a genuine connection with our clients. If you would like to talk with Dr. Andrea Seldomridge, or a Thrive Therapist about yourself, your child, or teen attending therapy we offer in person and video sessions, please reach out to us by phone at 858-342-1304. As the founder of Thrive, I have the privilege of working closely with some truly amazing therapists. My Thrive Team! In the next blog series, I am going to be introducing you to them one at a time.  Who do you LOVE working with? Being a therapist brings me so much joy! I have the privilege to connect with individuals from all walks of life and see the world through their lens. I love my work with adolescents, adults, and parents. Working with the BIPOC community is something I am passionate about as a BIPOC clinician myself. I enjoy supporting clients experiencing anxiety, life transitions, identity challenges and interpersonal struggles. What should potential clients know about you and your style in therapy? My therapeutic approach looks to help individuals become more understanding, accepting and compassionate in dealing with themselves and those they love. I believe in creating a safe and non-judgmental space for my clients. I strive to make them feel comfortable and supported throughout our sessions. My goal as a therapist is to support my clients on their journey towards improved mental well-being, and to empower them with the tools and insights to navigate life's challenges. I do this by taking an integrative approach to therapy. This means that I draw from various evidence-based therapeutic modalities and techniques, tailoring my approach to meet their unique needs. I also recognize the importance of cultural sensitivity and strive to create a culturally inclusive environment. I respect and value diversity, and I am committed to understanding and addressing the unique challenges clients may face based on their cultural background. I work alongside my clients, supporting, guiding, and rooting them on as they brave the challenges life can sometimes bring. My clients are as much my teachers as I am theirs. My clients never cease to amaze and inspire me with their strength, courage, and resilience. What is your favorite parenting tip or recommendation? That your child is a whole person with the same feelings we have, but with developing brains and very limited experience with these emotions. So remember your child is having a hard time, not giving you a hard time. What advice would you like to have received when you were younger? I wish I was told that all feelings were valid and okay to express. That acting strong and like you can handle everything on your own will catch up to you. It’s okay to not be okay and to ask for help. What do you like to do in your free time? I love to watch my son play baseball. I also love spending time with my family, especially going to Padres games together! I also enjoy reading and dabbling in photography. At Thrive, we take a positive, client-centered approach to therapy that is focused on creating a genuine connection with our clients. If you would like to talk with Dr. Maria Fowlks, or a Thrive Therapist about yourself, your child, or teen attending therapy we offer in person and video sessions, please reach out to us by phone at 858-342-1304.  By: CanvasRebel |
 Alexina Clarke is a Registered Associate MFT (AMFT110916) who is supervised by Jennifer Gonzalez (LMFT98444) | Alexina Clarke, AMFT Alexina is a rare find. She is an associate therapist who also has a lot of specialized experience as she was trained specifically in Emotion Focused Therapy working with couples as well as individual clients. While she does not work with children, Alexina brings a unique perspective to her work with individuals as she views everything from a systemic and relational perspective that I find fits well with the rest of us at Thrive. Plus, she is bringing a whole new service to Thrive by offering couples therapy! Alexina impressed me with her ability to connect with and understand the complexity of situations in a very deep and intuitive way that I think allows her to work with a lot of different presenting issues. She definitely is a welcome addition to our team! If you would like to read more about Alexina and her approach in therapy - please check out her bio here. If you would like to connect with her to discuss how she can help you and your family, please call us today! Link this to our phone number please! |
 Ying-Ying Shiue is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC 5349) who is supervised by Jennifer Gonzalez (LMFT98444) | Ying-Ying Shiue, APCC Ying-Ying is indeed a perfect fit at Thrive! She works with everyone we all love working with - children, teens, parents, families, and adults and is incredibly easy to get along with. Her warmth and easy going personality won us all over pretty quickly. However, Ying-Ying is much more than just someone who can get along with all of us - she truly has the experience and ability to connect with clients quickly and then help them move into a place of change with her support. Her insight, easy going nature, and ability to address and understand complex challenges make her a huge asset to our team! If you would like to read more about Ying-Ying and her approach in therapy - please check out her bio here. If you would like to connect with her to discuss how she can help you and your family, please call us today! |
As I mentioned, this was not an easy decision in terms of hiring during a pandemic but it has been so rewarding for all of us. Alexina and Ying-Ying bring needed new energy and perspectives to Thrive and we can’t wait to see how each of them progresses in their careers with us.
Please contact us today to learn more about Thrive, our team and how we can support you and your family!
Please contact us today to learn more about Thrive, our team and how we can support you and your family!
At Thrive, we take a positive, client centered approach to therapy that is focused on creating a genuine connection with our clients. If you would like to talk with a Thrive Therapist about yourself, your child, or teen attending therapy via video sessions, please reach out to us by phone at 858-342-1304.
As always, thanks for reading and comments are always welcome regarding any issues around child or teen psychotherapy services in San Diego by Thrive Therapy Studio.
To stay in the loop on the services offered and to receive updated information about Thrive, please feel free to sign up for the newsletter through the following link: http://eepurl.com/dsgLNL.
As always, thanks for reading and comments are always welcome regarding any issues around child or teen psychotherapy services in San Diego by Thrive Therapy Studio.
To stay in the loop on the services offered and to receive updated information about Thrive, please feel free to sign up for the newsletter through the following link: http://eepurl.com/dsgLNL.
All the reasons why I love working with each and every one of the therapists at Thrive!
By: Dr. Erica Wollerman
I had the distinct honor of being given an award last Friday by a dear colleague of mine, Dr. Julia Rosengren. Julia was given the responsibility of choosing someone she wanted to publicly honor in our San Diego mental health community and I was flattered that she chose me! In our line of work, it can be rare to be publicly recognized for what we do and the differences we can make in our communities. The whole event nearly brought me to tears it was just so kind, thoughtful, and uplifting. At the event, they asked those of us being honored to “pay it forward.” This led me to think about not just the many colleagues I respect, admire, and cherish in our community but the colleagues that I am lucky to work with at Thrive. My team, my favorites really J
So, I thought I would follow up my gratitude post from last week with a gratitude post all about them to share with all of our readers just what makes Thrive such a special place to be and work.
Angela Bianco, ASW
I have so many things I could say about Angela but most of all I am grateful for her ability for introspection and experiential learning. Angela has been such a gift as an employee as she is just so creative and talented at helping all of us access deeper parts of ourselves. Though she only works with us a small amount, she brings huge value to our team.
Dr. Maria Fowlks
When I think of Maria, I can’t help but think of all the times we have laughed together. She has been a guiding light for me especially in my own transition to being a working mama. Maria is someone who is just all heart and gives everything to her friends, her family, and her clients. She is fierce in the most loving and compassionate way and I am honored to have her in my life!
Jennifer Gonzalez, LMFT
Jennifer was my first therapist that I hired who I was not supervising and who I did not know before interviewing her. I am SO grateful for her and that I took that step! She has been such a rock for me since we started working together. She is someone that I can count on to be a grounding presence of support, compassion, and leadership. The more we work together, the more I value Jennifer and the ways we balance each other out!
Panicha McGuire, LMFT, RPT
A colleague once told me that Panicha is “such a light in the world.” I have to say, I agree. She cares with her whole heart and truly wants to help everyone she meets. She is also business minded and ambitious in what she hopes to do at our office – which is so nice for me! I can always count on her for more ideas and ways to help more clients in our community!
Lauren Spinelli, LCSW
Lauren is one of the warmest and kindest people I have ever known. She brings a sense of joy to everyone she works with and can just light up a room with her energy and joy. She has a way of making everyone at the office feel seen and cared for while also laughing off the challenges of our job.
Anoushey Nazir Khan, AMFT
All I can say about Anoushey is one of the most kind and grounding people I have known. She is truly gifted in her ability to bring a sense of calm and warmth to every situation she is in. She was our most recent addition to our clinical team and after meeting her, we felt sure that we were complete as a clinical team!
Special Shout Out to our newest addition – Jessica Felix-Acuna
Jessica is our most recent addition at Thrive and is our new administrative assistant. I already have been appreciating her willingness to dive in and take things on to help us all out.
As you can see, I am truly lucky to be part of such an amazing team. We spend so much of our time together supporting each other as well as laughing together and just enjoying our time. I can’t help but think that this is how every workplace should be! I know it would not be possible without teach and every one of them. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for making Thrive what it is and making my dreams of owning a group practice with a great work environment a reality!
So, I thought I would follow up my gratitude post from last week with a gratitude post all about them to share with all of our readers just what makes Thrive such a special place to be and work.
Angela Bianco, ASW
I have so many things I could say about Angela but most of all I am grateful for her ability for introspection and experiential learning. Angela has been such a gift as an employee as she is just so creative and talented at helping all of us access deeper parts of ourselves. Though she only works with us a small amount, she brings huge value to our team.
Dr. Maria Fowlks
When I think of Maria, I can’t help but think of all the times we have laughed together. She has been a guiding light for me especially in my own transition to being a working mama. Maria is someone who is just all heart and gives everything to her friends, her family, and her clients. She is fierce in the most loving and compassionate way and I am honored to have her in my life!
Jennifer Gonzalez, LMFT
Jennifer was my first therapist that I hired who I was not supervising and who I did not know before interviewing her. I am SO grateful for her and that I took that step! She has been such a rock for me since we started working together. She is someone that I can count on to be a grounding presence of support, compassion, and leadership. The more we work together, the more I value Jennifer and the ways we balance each other out!
Panicha McGuire, LMFT, RPT
A colleague once told me that Panicha is “such a light in the world.” I have to say, I agree. She cares with her whole heart and truly wants to help everyone she meets. She is also business minded and ambitious in what she hopes to do at our office – which is so nice for me! I can always count on her for more ideas and ways to help more clients in our community!
Lauren Spinelli, LCSW
Lauren is one of the warmest and kindest people I have ever known. She brings a sense of joy to everyone she works with and can just light up a room with her energy and joy. She has a way of making everyone at the office feel seen and cared for while also laughing off the challenges of our job.
Anoushey Nazir Khan, AMFT
All I can say about Anoushey is one of the most kind and grounding people I have known. She is truly gifted in her ability to bring a sense of calm and warmth to every situation she is in. She was our most recent addition to our clinical team and after meeting her, we felt sure that we were complete as a clinical team!
Special Shout Out to our newest addition – Jessica Felix-Acuna
Jessica is our most recent addition at Thrive and is our new administrative assistant. I already have been appreciating her willingness to dive in and take things on to help us all out.
As you can see, I am truly lucky to be part of such an amazing team. We spend so much of our time together supporting each other as well as laughing together and just enjoying our time. I can’t help but think that this is how every workplace should be! I know it would not be possible without teach and every one of them. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for making Thrive what it is and making my dreams of owning a group practice with a great work environment a reality!
A note from Thrive's founder, Dr. Erica Wollerman:
Welcome to our latest blog series! Since I am often the one writing our Thrive blogs, I wanted to make sure that our readers would be able to also get to know the amazing team I work with at Thrive. I am so grateful to work with each of these therapists and they each offer our clients something special. Since we have a team of 7, we truly have a therapist who will match most clients who reach out to us in terms of style and personality. Anoushey is an amazingly calming, compassionate, and warm therapist. We are grateful to have her on the Thrive team!
Welcome to our latest blog series! Since I am often the one writing our Thrive blogs, I wanted to make sure that our readers would be able to also get to know the amazing team I work with at Thrive. I am so grateful to work with each of these therapists and they each offer our clients something special. Since we have a team of 7, we truly have a therapist who will match most clients who reach out to us in terms of style and personality. Anoushey is an amazingly calming, compassionate, and warm therapist. We are grateful to have her on the Thrive team!
Tell us about you and why you wanted to become a therapist.
My name is Anoushey and I’m so glad I get to share something about myself with you. Just like our clients, our lives as therapists are also shaped by our unique stories. I was born and raised in Pakistan, my upbringing, culture and education plays an important role in who I’m as a person and as a therapist. It also gives me an appreciation of the complexity of our emotional lives and the various factors that influence it.
Becoming a therapist: My father read me stories when I was a child, some were fables while others were fairy tales but most were real life anecdotes of the human experience. The narrations were always rich and vivid with descriptions of not only what people did but also how they felt. These early experiences made me curious and appreciative of people’s personal journeys especially the intricate tapestry of emotions that were manifested and expressed through their behavior.
As a teenager when I grew even more curious about mental health, I realized that in Pakistan mental health awareness and services were far and few. Nevertheless I came across an article one day that described the work of an organization providing services to children and teen survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in a safe and a confidential environment. This became a turning point in my life and led me to the path of pursuing therapy as my passion, profession and life’s calling.
What do you love about being a therapist?
I believe I always wanted to be a therapist even when I didn’t really know that a profession like it even exists! To be chosen as a witness, confidante and a companion in someone’s journey of self-discovery. What an incredible honor and a coveted responsibility and one which I accept with great pride as well as humility.
How would you describe yourself as a therapist?
I’m attentive, respectful, empathic and collaborative. I believe in my clients potential to be the best navigator of their own lives. I serve as an anchor, advocate and cheerleader and foster a non judgmental and warm relationship where my clients feel safe to explore and resolve their challenges.
Do you have a particular theory or framework that guides your work as a therapist?
I am a client centered therapist which means that I believe that our clients carry within themselves a vast resource for self discovery and fulfillment. My role as a therapist is to provide a warm and genuine environment that empowers the clients to tap into this reservoir. As their therapist, I view my clients with an unconditional positive regard which is a necessary component of our therapeutic relationship and one that nurtures the client’s self-growth.
At the same time I challenge my clients to push their limits and take personal responsibility when I witness them getting stuck. I also rely on my education and training to use empirically proven therapeutic techniques to steer my clients as they encounter roadblocks.
Who do you love working with in therapy?
Any and everyone! Every detail and dimension of a client’s background presents a unique opportunity to understand not only the client but also the world that they inhibit. It also makes me a better therapist because I get the opportunity to be taught by clients from varied age range and backgrounds and form a more holistic worldview.
In my professional experience I have worked with children for over 10 years and I absolutely love utilizing the tools of Play Therapy. I have helped children cope with trauma, navigate through adjustment and identity issues, loss, anxiety, depression as well as school related problems. Working with children and teens gives me immense joy as sometimes I might be the only grown up they feel safe enough to confide in or look up to as a role model. I whole heartedly embrace this privilege and model healthy boundaries, trusting relationship, emotional regulation, and fostering of healthy self-esteem. In addition I view working with parents and families as a crucial component of lasting change not only for the child but also for the whole family.
Share one thing you are passionate about in your professional or personal life.
Being curious about people and places is a personal and professional passion. I love traveling especially with my husband and my two boys. Through travel, I want to give my kids the gift of learning and celebrating different cultures.
My name is Anoushey and I’m so glad I get to share something about myself with you. Just like our clients, our lives as therapists are also shaped by our unique stories. I was born and raised in Pakistan, my upbringing, culture and education plays an important role in who I’m as a person and as a therapist. It also gives me an appreciation of the complexity of our emotional lives and the various factors that influence it.
Becoming a therapist: My father read me stories when I was a child, some were fables while others were fairy tales but most were real life anecdotes of the human experience. The narrations were always rich and vivid with descriptions of not only what people did but also how they felt. These early experiences made me curious and appreciative of people’s personal journeys especially the intricate tapestry of emotions that were manifested and expressed through their behavior.
As a teenager when I grew even more curious about mental health, I realized that in Pakistan mental health awareness and services were far and few. Nevertheless I came across an article one day that described the work of an organization providing services to children and teen survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in a safe and a confidential environment. This became a turning point in my life and led me to the path of pursuing therapy as my passion, profession and life’s calling.
What do you love about being a therapist?
I believe I always wanted to be a therapist even when I didn’t really know that a profession like it even exists! To be chosen as a witness, confidante and a companion in someone’s journey of self-discovery. What an incredible honor and a coveted responsibility and one which I accept with great pride as well as humility.
How would you describe yourself as a therapist?
I’m attentive, respectful, empathic and collaborative. I believe in my clients potential to be the best navigator of their own lives. I serve as an anchor, advocate and cheerleader and foster a non judgmental and warm relationship where my clients feel safe to explore and resolve their challenges.
Do you have a particular theory or framework that guides your work as a therapist?
I am a client centered therapist which means that I believe that our clients carry within themselves a vast resource for self discovery and fulfillment. My role as a therapist is to provide a warm and genuine environment that empowers the clients to tap into this reservoir. As their therapist, I view my clients with an unconditional positive regard which is a necessary component of our therapeutic relationship and one that nurtures the client’s self-growth.
At the same time I challenge my clients to push their limits and take personal responsibility when I witness them getting stuck. I also rely on my education and training to use empirically proven therapeutic techniques to steer my clients as they encounter roadblocks.
Who do you love working with in therapy?
Any and everyone! Every detail and dimension of a client’s background presents a unique opportunity to understand not only the client but also the world that they inhibit. It also makes me a better therapist because I get the opportunity to be taught by clients from varied age range and backgrounds and form a more holistic worldview.
In my professional experience I have worked with children for over 10 years and I absolutely love utilizing the tools of Play Therapy. I have helped children cope with trauma, navigate through adjustment and identity issues, loss, anxiety, depression as well as school related problems. Working with children and teens gives me immense joy as sometimes I might be the only grown up they feel safe enough to confide in or look up to as a role model. I whole heartedly embrace this privilege and model healthy boundaries, trusting relationship, emotional regulation, and fostering of healthy self-esteem. In addition I view working with parents and families as a crucial component of lasting change not only for the child but also for the whole family.
Share one thing you are passionate about in your professional or personal life.
Being curious about people and places is a personal and professional passion. I love traveling especially with my husband and my two boys. Through travel, I want to give my kids the gift of learning and celebrating different cultures.
For more information about Anoushey and her work, please check out her bio here! If you would like to schedule an appointment with Jennifer, please also feel free to call our main number and ask for her or fill out our contact form here and note that you would prefer to work with Anoushey!
A note from Thrive's founder, Dr. Erica Wollerman:
Welcome to our last blog of our Meet our Therapist Blog series! Since I am often the one writing our Thrive blogs, I wanted to make sure that our readers would be able to also get to know the amazing team I work with at Thrive. I am so grateful to work with each of these therapists and they each offer our clients something special.
My passion for the field developed first as a part of some self-exploration. I am a first generation Asian-American, and growing up with dual identities was not easy. Am I American? Or am I Asian? I discovered the field of psychology in college and learned so much about myself and my family dynamics. In the meantime, I was working as an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) specialist serving children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities. The work was so rewarding, but I soon realized something was missing. Because of the stigma of seeking help in my family’s culture, I didn’t realize that there is an entire field of people that are there to help others struggling with mental health, family, and relationship dynamics. I wanted to do more than behavior training, which led me to the field of family therapy.
Creating relationships and witnessing my client’s growth has been the most rewarding part about being a therapist. It is amazing to see the growth in someone on the first day they step into my office compared to the day they say goodbye. And I don’t think it is all me. I believe all my clients have potential for change and growth, some just need a little nudge and guidance. My style in therapy could be best described as collaborative and authentic. Not all clients are the same as they all have walked different paths in their lives. I pride myself in helping my clients use their existing strengths or interests towards their goals. In working with children and teens, that could mean anything from academic strengths, extracurricular interests, or even video games. Some of my teenage clients have frequently heard me use certain video games as an analogy in their treatment, with different levels being an obstacle they need to overcome to reach their goals.
In addition to being a licensed psychotherapist, I am also a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). This means that I’ve completed specialized training and supervision to conduct play therapy. Play therapy is the recommended treatment choice for children in all settings. For adults, it’s easier and more natural to sit down and tell the therapist what your needs are. For children and teens, they may need a different approach to resolve their problems and play is their language. Imagine if I had taken the words “I’m angry with you” out of your mouth, you would be extremely frustrated that you are unable to express this statement. As an RPT, I use toys, games, or experiential activities to assess and teach children and teens how to express their feelings, cope with challenges, and learn new ways of relating to others.
I’ve had experience with many types of clients from court mandated therapy to private practice, and the youngest being 18 months old to the oldest at 65 years old. Although I can work with clients from any walks of life, my passion is in working with children, teens, young adults, and parents. A framework that guides my practice with all my clients is attachment, or the emotional bond between people. I believe that the emotional connections we had as children inform the way we relate to others as we develop through adolescence and adulthood. Even my adult clients benefit from an attachment-based therapy as they often recognize how their relationship with others throughout their life has affected how they currently relate to their partner, friends, colleagues, or other relationships.
Although I spend a lot of time in the therapy room, I continue to practice self-care regularly through the week with things I love. Generally, I am either doing yoga, traveling abroad, enjoying geek-related things (video games, comics, attending cons, going to Disneyland etc.), or spending time with my family. As a military wife, family time is very important to me as we often don’t have enough hours in the day or even year together. Want to know another fun fact about me? My dog’s name is Obi wan! Yes, as in the Jedi.
Creating relationships and witnessing my client’s growth has been the most rewarding part about being a therapist. It is amazing to see the growth in someone on the first day they step into my office compared to the day they say goodbye. And I don’t think it is all me. I believe all my clients have potential for change and growth, some just need a little nudge and guidance. My style in therapy could be best described as collaborative and authentic. Not all clients are the same as they all have walked different paths in their lives. I pride myself in helping my clients use their existing strengths or interests towards their goals. In working with children and teens, that could mean anything from academic strengths, extracurricular interests, or even video games. Some of my teenage clients have frequently heard me use certain video games as an analogy in their treatment, with different levels being an obstacle they need to overcome to reach their goals.
In addition to being a licensed psychotherapist, I am also a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). This means that I’ve completed specialized training and supervision to conduct play therapy. Play therapy is the recommended treatment choice for children in all settings. For adults, it’s easier and more natural to sit down and tell the therapist what your needs are. For children and teens, they may need a different approach to resolve their problems and play is their language. Imagine if I had taken the words “I’m angry with you” out of your mouth, you would be extremely frustrated that you are unable to express this statement. As an RPT, I use toys, games, or experiential activities to assess and teach children and teens how to express their feelings, cope with challenges, and learn new ways of relating to others.
I’ve had experience with many types of clients from court mandated therapy to private practice, and the youngest being 18 months old to the oldest at 65 years old. Although I can work with clients from any walks of life, my passion is in working with children, teens, young adults, and parents. A framework that guides my practice with all my clients is attachment, or the emotional bond between people. I believe that the emotional connections we had as children inform the way we relate to others as we develop through adolescence and adulthood. Even my adult clients benefit from an attachment-based therapy as they often recognize how their relationship with others throughout their life has affected how they currently relate to their partner, friends, colleagues, or other relationships.
Although I spend a lot of time in the therapy room, I continue to practice self-care regularly through the week with things I love. Generally, I am either doing yoga, traveling abroad, enjoying geek-related things (video games, comics, attending cons, going to Disneyland etc.), or spending time with my family. As a military wife, family time is very important to me as we often don’t have enough hours in the day or even year together. Want to know another fun fact about me? My dog’s name is Obi wan! Yes, as in the Jedi.
For more information about Panicha and her work, please check out her bio here! If you would like to schedule an appointment with Panicha (or join one of her many groups!), please also feel free to call our main number and ask for her or fill out our contact form here and note that you would prefer to work with Panicha!
A note from Thrive's founder, Dr. Erica Wollerman:
Welcome to our latest blog series! Since I am often the one writing our Thrive blogs, I wanted to make sure that our readers would be able to also get to know the amazing team I work with at Thrive. I am so grateful to work with each of these therapists and they each offer our clients something special. Since we have a team of 6, we will be sharing these blogs over the coming summer weeks!
Welcome to our latest blog series! Since I am often the one writing our Thrive blogs, I wanted to make sure that our readers would be able to also get to know the amazing team I work with at Thrive. I am so grateful to work with each of these therapists and they each offer our clients something special. Since we have a team of 6, we will be sharing these blogs over the coming summer weeks!
Tell us about you and why you wanted to become a therapist.
I was about ten years old when I figured out what I wanted to be “when I grew up.” I consider myself very lucky as I understand that not everyone has this luxury. From a very early age I realized that I wanted to help people make a difference in their lives. My journey began when I volunteered my little brother’s first grade class, this experience gave me the opportunity to witness some of the struggles that children face in and outside of the classroom.
What do you love about being a therapist?
It is my life’s passion and I can say with great certainty that I could not possibly imagine doing anything else! There is no better satisfaction than being part of an individual’s personal growth. I enjoy being people’s support system and advocate to help those people that many times are struggling to help themselves. My favorite part of being a clinician is witnessing first-hand the progress that a person can make with a little assistance and encouragement.
How would you describe yourself as a therapist?
Client-centered! I believe that my clients are the experts on their own lives, and it is my job to learn about them from them and meet them where they are. I am empathetic, humorous, a story teller, warm and non-judgmental. I see my approach as a collaborative effort and take the time to work on building and nurturing trusting therapeutic relationships with my clients.
Who do you love working with in therapy?
I enjoy working with school-age children, adolescents, adults and families. Although my passion began with my work with children, through my education and experience I learned to love and appreciate every stage of a human’s development. As a systemic thinker, I promote and advocate for family therapy whenever possible and appropriate. I believe that there is a lot of power to change, adapt or adjust to a situation when more members of a family are involved in treatment. My areas of focus include but not limited to depression, anxiety, academic and school-related struggles, attention deficit/hyperactivity, oppositional-defiance, grief and loss, self-harm, parenting, relationship and identity related issues.
Do you have a particular theory or framework that guides your work as a therapist? If so, describe it and tell us why you use that.
I have been trained in multiple approaches such as Solution-Focused Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, Brief Strategic Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. My philosophy is that the approach should be good fit for the client not the other way around.
Share one thing you are passionate about in your professional or personal life.
A professional goal I set myself post licensure was to become a clinical supervisor. I enjoy being a teacher and leader; becoming a clinical supervisor will give me the opportunity to help others grow professionally and help create the next generation of therapists. This goal will become a reality this year!
My personal passion is traveling! Culture and diversity never seize to amaze me. Although culture shock can be scary and intimidating, I find it fascinating. My goal is to visit all continents. At the end of this year, I will have visited 18 countries in 5 continents. My travels provide me the opportunity to learn about different, backgrounds, idiosyncrasies, traditions, customs and beliefs which I often incorporate into my treatment.
I was about ten years old when I figured out what I wanted to be “when I grew up.” I consider myself very lucky as I understand that not everyone has this luxury. From a very early age I realized that I wanted to help people make a difference in their lives. My journey began when I volunteered my little brother’s first grade class, this experience gave me the opportunity to witness some of the struggles that children face in and outside of the classroom.
What do you love about being a therapist?
It is my life’s passion and I can say with great certainty that I could not possibly imagine doing anything else! There is no better satisfaction than being part of an individual’s personal growth. I enjoy being people’s support system and advocate to help those people that many times are struggling to help themselves. My favorite part of being a clinician is witnessing first-hand the progress that a person can make with a little assistance and encouragement.
How would you describe yourself as a therapist?
Client-centered! I believe that my clients are the experts on their own lives, and it is my job to learn about them from them and meet them where they are. I am empathetic, humorous, a story teller, warm and non-judgmental. I see my approach as a collaborative effort and take the time to work on building and nurturing trusting therapeutic relationships with my clients.
Who do you love working with in therapy?
I enjoy working with school-age children, adolescents, adults and families. Although my passion began with my work with children, through my education and experience I learned to love and appreciate every stage of a human’s development. As a systemic thinker, I promote and advocate for family therapy whenever possible and appropriate. I believe that there is a lot of power to change, adapt or adjust to a situation when more members of a family are involved in treatment. My areas of focus include but not limited to depression, anxiety, academic and school-related struggles, attention deficit/hyperactivity, oppositional-defiance, grief and loss, self-harm, parenting, relationship and identity related issues.
Do you have a particular theory or framework that guides your work as a therapist? If so, describe it and tell us why you use that.
I have been trained in multiple approaches such as Solution-Focused Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, Brief Strategic Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. My philosophy is that the approach should be good fit for the client not the other way around.
Share one thing you are passionate about in your professional or personal life.
A professional goal I set myself post licensure was to become a clinical supervisor. I enjoy being a teacher and leader; becoming a clinical supervisor will give me the opportunity to help others grow professionally and help create the next generation of therapists. This goal will become a reality this year!
My personal passion is traveling! Culture and diversity never seize to amaze me. Although culture shock can be scary and intimidating, I find it fascinating. My goal is to visit all continents. At the end of this year, I will have visited 18 countries in 5 continents. My travels provide me the opportunity to learn about different, backgrounds, idiosyncrasies, traditions, customs and beliefs which I often incorporate into my treatment.
For more information about Jennifer and her work, please check out her bio here! If you would like to schedule an appointment with Jennifer, please also feel free to call our main number and ask for her or fill out our contact form here and note that you would prefer to work with Jennifer!
A note from Thrive's founder, Dr. Erica Wollerman:
Welcome to our latest blog series! Since I am often the one writing our Thrive blogs, I wanted to make sure that our readers would be able to also get to know the amazing team I work with at Thrive. I am so grateful to work with each of these therapists and they each offer our clients something special. Since we have a team of 6, we will be sharing these blogs over the coming summer weeks!
Tell us about you and why you wanted to become a therapist.
Hey there! My name is Angela and becoming a therapist was never something I thought would be my career path. I went to school in New York for acting and studied in a Shakespeare Conservatory in London. I fell in love with the process of researching the human condition, looking for the subtext, and finding ways to empathize with the hundreds of characters that would come my way through theatre, television, and movies. I studied Psychology to understand more about the human experience and how the brain works. I loved it. I loved it so much that I moved to England to train as a Drama and Movement therapist and had the opportunity to complete a Master’s program that combined two passions. I learned how to be a psychotherapist armed with creative tools and interventions to help people of all ages to reconnect with their creativity and support them in moving through trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, anger, and everything in between. I wanted to learn more about the systems of care in America and contribute to a growing body of mental health professionals who destigmatize mental health diagnosis by treating the person as a whole and not just a diagnosis. I went back to school for a Master’s in Social Work and concentrated on Families and Children. I discovered a new passion called Family Therapy, in which, I encourage my clients to bring as many family members as will fit on the couch! I guess that doesn’t answer the “why”! I learn a new “why” each and everyday. Today, I am a therapist because I will hold hope when it feels like it’s too heavy to hold on your own.
What do you love about being a therapist?
I love having the honor of being a witness to a family or individuals growth process and the “ah-ha!” moments. I love being able to create a safe space for my clients to unpack their obstacles, hopes, dreams, and desires and then support them in learning new tools to add to their ever growing toolbox.
How would you describe yourself as a therapist?
Present. Honest. Curious. Empathic. Resourceful.
Who do you love working with in therapy?
I truly enjoy working with a variety of clients across the lifespan. It gives me joy to spend one session in the play therapy room with a five year client who is working out conflict with dinosaurs and the next supporting a mother and teenage daughter build their relationship through intimacy exercises. I am here to sit with the adult who is processing emotional blocks that are preventing them from reaching their goals to the couple who want to save their marriage. I love all these moments.
Do you have a particular theory or framework that guides your work as a therapist? If so, describe it and tell us why you use that.
One framework that I use with couples includes work by John and Julie Gottman. The approach not only supports and repairs relationships, it also strengthens existing happy couples. I enjoy walking couples through “building love maps” and witness their growth as they learn new things about their partner!
Share one thing you are passionate about in your professional or personal life.
I am currently working on becoming a certified Yin Yoga and Reiki practitioner. I am wildly passionate about using different healing modalities in my personal life and always looking for new ways to become energized and inspired by life!
Hey there! My name is Angela and becoming a therapist was never something I thought would be my career path. I went to school in New York for acting and studied in a Shakespeare Conservatory in London. I fell in love with the process of researching the human condition, looking for the subtext, and finding ways to empathize with the hundreds of characters that would come my way through theatre, television, and movies. I studied Psychology to understand more about the human experience and how the brain works. I loved it. I loved it so much that I moved to England to train as a Drama and Movement therapist and had the opportunity to complete a Master’s program that combined two passions. I learned how to be a psychotherapist armed with creative tools and interventions to help people of all ages to reconnect with their creativity and support them in moving through trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, anger, and everything in between. I wanted to learn more about the systems of care in America and contribute to a growing body of mental health professionals who destigmatize mental health diagnosis by treating the person as a whole and not just a diagnosis. I went back to school for a Master’s in Social Work and concentrated on Families and Children. I discovered a new passion called Family Therapy, in which, I encourage my clients to bring as many family members as will fit on the couch! I guess that doesn’t answer the “why”! I learn a new “why” each and everyday. Today, I am a therapist because I will hold hope when it feels like it’s too heavy to hold on your own.
What do you love about being a therapist?
I love having the honor of being a witness to a family or individuals growth process and the “ah-ha!” moments. I love being able to create a safe space for my clients to unpack their obstacles, hopes, dreams, and desires and then support them in learning new tools to add to their ever growing toolbox.
How would you describe yourself as a therapist?
Present. Honest. Curious. Empathic. Resourceful.
Who do you love working with in therapy?
I truly enjoy working with a variety of clients across the lifespan. It gives me joy to spend one session in the play therapy room with a five year client who is working out conflict with dinosaurs and the next supporting a mother and teenage daughter build their relationship through intimacy exercises. I am here to sit with the adult who is processing emotional blocks that are preventing them from reaching their goals to the couple who want to save their marriage. I love all these moments.
Do you have a particular theory or framework that guides your work as a therapist? If so, describe it and tell us why you use that.
One framework that I use with couples includes work by John and Julie Gottman. The approach not only supports and repairs relationships, it also strengthens existing happy couples. I enjoy walking couples through “building love maps” and witness their growth as they learn new things about their partner!
Share one thing you are passionate about in your professional or personal life.
I am currently working on becoming a certified Yin Yoga and Reiki practitioner. I am wildly passionate about using different healing modalities in my personal life and always looking for new ways to become energized and inspired by life!
For more information about Angela and her work, please check out her bio here! If you would like to schedule an appointment with Angela, please also feel free to call our main number and ask for her or fill out our contact form here and note that you would prefer to work with Angela!
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