Are you ready to start feeling better? Dara is ready to help! She provides the perfect mix of compassion and energy to help you get moving on your therapy goals.
Meet Dara. Dara is a certified clinical social worker who is experienced working with children, adolescents, and adults. She is fluent in English and Spanish and is able to help in either language. She feels honored to hear her clients’ stories, help them discover their strengths, and witness their change.
Training & Experience. Dara received a Masters of Social Work, with a clinical concentration in children, youth, and families from Boston College. She also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development from Brigham Young University. Dara has been trained and certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Dara has worked as a therapist in health care, school, in-home, and child advocacy center settings. In addition to her work as a therapist at TSL&A, Dara currently helps children at The Tree House Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County.
Interests and Specialties. Dara is skilled at helping individuals of all ages who are seeking treatment of trauma. She is experienced at integrating play into work with children. As an active runner, Dara is also interested in connecting physical and emotional health. Dara has had specific experience helping clients in the following circumstances:
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Life-transitions (divorce, unemployment, accidents, aging, death, health difficulties)
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Anxiety, panic, and depression
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Recovering from trauma
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Grief and loss
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Parenting children with difficult behaviors
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Children with a variety of emotional and educational needs, using play as a medium to adapt cognitive therapies and learn body regulation
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Integrative work in the community health setting, schools, and in-home
Thoughts on Therapy. “I believe therapy is a sacred space when someone shares a story they may never have told due to shame and fear. I celebrate the sharing because I believe while trauma and hardship isolates, through sharing a person can begin to find understanding and healing. I believe that my role is to be a companion and coach on that healing journey, providing tools that can be used outside of the therapy session. My job is to help my clients leave my office ready for healthy behaviors and positive interactions with the people in their lives! I also love working with children on this path, using the language of the child, play. My goal for children is to help them to develop in a healthy way!”
Treatment Approach. Dara is ready to work with you wherever you are on your path for change and wellness. She uses effective methods to help you identify unhelpful thoughts and patterns that are blocking your progress. Often early negative experiences can cloud one’s vision of themselves and the world. Dara will assess and treat the impact of past trauma, if necessary. She knows that therapeutic change is unlikely without a strong, open therapist-client relationship. Thus, her first priority is to hear and understand you. She will then work with you to identify goals and make a plan to accomplish them. Dara utilizes the following methods for treatment:
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Solution-focused therapy
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Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression
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Cognitive processing therapy for PTSD
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Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy
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Synergistic play therapy
Education
- Master of Social Work, Clinical Concentration in Children, Youth, and Families, Boston College
- Bachelor of Science, Marriage, Family, and Human Development, Brigham Young University
License
- LCSWC-Certified-Clinical (20708)
Languages
- Spanish
- English
- Professional Memberships
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists (AMCAP)