Specialties
LGBTQ+
Our Queer kids grow up differently. They learn and hear different messages making their identity exploration look different. Many of our adulthood thoughts are built upon these messages, whether from our culture or from our family/environment. Understanding these differences is important both as a queer individual and as parents. Whether an adult, an adolescent or parents of queer kids; this is a safe space to explore what that means in your life.
This can be particularly true with those that identify as trans. The feeling of not fitting into your body, or struggling with what gender means to you, can be such a heavy feeling. Navigating the complexities of friends, family, school and even health care is also hard. The transition to being you can be an amazing journey, and a difficult one, but having a supportive voice along the way can help.
Adolescence 18+
Our teenage years are some of our hardest years. It is a time when you are gaining independence and still have a lack of control over many parts of your life. This is all happening while dealing with all of the bodily changes and brain development that is still occurring. Understanding the unique circumstance, developmental nature of decision making, and what is typical behavior, can help in navigating this. Your experience is real, and understanding that experience can bring some guidance to get you closer to what you want your life to look like.
Identity Development
We go through many stages of development in our lives, and it doesn’t just happen to us physically. Life hands us so many transitions, from changing relationships, educational institutions, and careers, to dealing with the unexpected, gaining independence and being the driving decision makers in our own lives. Understanding the impact of culture, genetics, family and environment on our identity can help us to challenge some of the old messages that we might carry. Self-criticism, self-worth, confidence and stress management all inform how we see ourselves and where we set our boundaries. This is a place to connect the way that our experiences impact who we are today and gain a better sense of our identities.
Parenting
Parenting is very rewarding and can be very hard. It can also be very draining. It is hard enough when things are going well, let alone when they are going poorly. Two major factors that become points of contention in relationships with children are finances and parenting. Being on the same page, managing outbursts, and gain some control back over your environment can help to alleviate at least one of those factors. This parenting curriculum is a PCIT informed psychoeducation focus, where parents learn specific skills and protocols to implement at home. I ask parents to book a minimum of 6 sessions to gain the required knowledge and skills to practice at home so that you feel more confident as a parent and more attached in your relationships.
Modalities
Salem is trained in using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and PCIT (Parent Child Interactive Therapy) as well as other modalities that inform the clinical work. If you have questions about specific modalities, or would like to understand more about how these might fit your situation, Salem would be happy to explore these options with you.