My Therapeutic Approach

I have four rules when it comes to therapy:

  • one size does not fit all

  • do not ask anything of my clients that I am not willing to do myself

  • balance compassion with honesty

  • the client leads, I guide

I’ve been on both sides of the coffee table. It’s how I know beginning the journey is difficult, but staying the course is not much easier.

Everyone is at different steps of their journey and each path is different. Plans aren’t set in stone, and setbacks are a part of the process. Acceptance is paramount, and I’m not here to judge or tell anyone what to do. Transparency and direct communication during the collaboration process are a necessity in order to truly achieve progress.

Military helicopter flying against a bright sky.

Background & Experience

I am a retired United States Army Major, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a first generation Colombian immigrant. I am currently licensed in NC, NJ and TX. I am fluent in Spanish and English, and have intermediate fluency in German.

A young girl with long dark hair, wearing a white jacket, a blue shirt, white shorts, and white socks, standing indoors in front of an electronic device.

I am married, am the mother to a wonderful son, and to two dogs.

When I am not at work, I am on the hunt for good food, adventures with my people (human or animal alike), starting out a new hobby I may or may not finish, or trying to figure out a new workout plan that my body will cooperate with.

I am also a disabled veteran who is very fortunate to have the daily assistance from a fantastic service dog from K9sForWarriors.

A service dog with a harness that says 'SERVICE DOG DO NOT PET'.
Small white dog lying on a red blanket, looking at the camera.

*Dogs not pictured to scale

My experience spans four years of experience as a Behavioral Health Specialist, ten years as a

Behavioral Health Officer, and two years in private practice. I have worked in outpatient and inpatient psychiatry, as well as substance use treatment. I have experience with Combat Operational Stress Control (COSC), Traumatic Event Management (TEM), crisis management, suicide prevention and mental health services in austere environments.

Two military officers, a man and a woman, standing indoors in front of a flag, smiling at the camera, dressed in formal military uniforms with medals and insignias.

Clinical Focus

My clinical focus areas are in complex trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, and neurodivergence (predominantly ADHD and OCD). My main client demographic are high performing individuals, people with chronic pain or illness, women with extensive trauma history, first responders, military, medical professionals, veterans, LGBTQ+, and immigrants.

I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Neural Desensitization and Integration Therapy (NDIT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE), Ketamine Assisted Therapy (KAP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).

I have extensive experience completing psychological evaluations and clinical opinions for fitness-for-duty evaluations for positions of trust, command-directed behavioral assessments while in the military, as well as writing letters regarding gender-affirming care and insurance authorization, as well as certification for need of medical leave (FMLA).

Qualifications 

A woman in military uniform receiving a certificate or award from a smiling man in military uniform, with another man in uniform standing in the background, all in front of military flags.

“First Lt. Martha Villafrade-Blume, social work intern”- NARA and DVIDS Public Domain Archives

Education

Master of Social Work

United States Army Master of Social Work - Fayetteville State University • 2015

Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology

Minor in Sociology

New York University • 2010

Licensure

North Carolina Social Work Certification & Licensure Board

C010955

New Jersey Division of Customer Affairs

44SC06369600

Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council

113563

Credentials

Board Certified Diplomate

American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW)