Jennifer Richards, LCSW

Modern life can be painful: work-stress, relationship issues, raising kids (never mind teenagers!), and all the while trying to be healthy and happy. Sometimes it can all be quite overwhelming. I believe that we all want to be happy and peaceful, but sometimes we get stuck in the mud and could use a helping hand out. As a therapist, I am passionate about helping people learn how to be happier, calmer, and content with life (no matter what it throws at you). My goal is to teach you how to be your own therapist, best friend, and mentor. You’re in charge of your life and I’ll help you find the path that works well for you. I specialize in assisting individuals who struggle with depression and anxiety. Life can be so hard when we are boggled down with sadness and fear, but there is hope. I use only techniques and therapy models that are backed by scientific research that are proven to be effective. Reaching out is the hardest part. It’s hard to ask for help, but it can also be relieving to have someone to talk to who is supportive, safe, and accepting. I believe that connection to others is important. We’re not meant to walk on this path called life alone. I’m here to guide you and teach you how to help yourself move forward to the next section of the trail. About me as a therapist: As a licensed clinical social worker in private practice it is my calling and an honor to work with people who are struggling with depression and anxiety. I have worked in a mental health and with various clients for over six years. I enjoy working with middle-school aged children, young adults, and adults (both young-at-heart and old souls) who are willing to try new things and open to change. My education is rooted in social work; I see the whole person in the context of the larger society. We are not islands off by ourselves, but rather connected to our larger world and it's problems. Sometimes it takes more than just talking about our mental health symptoms to create change. Sometimes larger things in our lives also need to shift in order to relieve the pressure. I’m here to explore those options with you. I’m enthusiastic about therapy. I love talking about and challenging how we see ourselves and our world. I believe that change is possible though examining our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I believe in the healing that can come with a daily mindfulness practice and learning to live in the present moment. Often if we let ourselves live in the “now” we can reduce our suffering. This does not mean that we do not plan for the future or learn from the past, but rather we learn to relax and let go routinely to reduce stress and find more ease in life. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three cats. I love to be outdoors in the woods, spending time with friends, reading fantasy novels, and contemplating life. I believe in the healing power of therapy and the importance of finding a therapist that you “click with.” Schedule a 10-30 minute phone consultation with me to discuss your goals and to see if we might be a good fit. If I think that you would be a better fit with another therapist I will be sure to refer you to another therapist. *** I primarily use a mixture of cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is about how our thoughts make a huge difference in our lives. That is the primary focus, but then we also look at how your thoughts effect your feeling and your behaviors. For example, lets say that someone just had a breakup. Many people react differently to a break up. Some people are devastated, others angry, and some are even relieved! And some of this has to do with our thoughts. For example, if I had a breakup I could think to myself “I’m unlovable… I knew it.” Which would cause depression. Or I could think “That jerk! How dare he leave such a great find!” where I would feel angry but have good self-esteem. Or I could think “Oh, I didn’t expect this. But it’s ok. I’m sad, but I’ll make the most out of this situation. Maybe I’ll find someone who is a better fit for me.” I’ll help you explore your thoughts to see if they are helping you and if they are not- let’s find a new thought that helps you better (like the last one). And sometimes by changing how we act, we can change our thoughts and feelings. For example, if I felt depressed about my breakup and stayed at my house all of the time- I might try to go out with friends or join a group of likeminded people who have similar interests. Then, I might start to think more helpful thoughts and help myself get out of my depression. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is about how to handle overwhelming emotions. If we feel like we are drowning in depression, we might not know how to get ourselves out of it. We can learn how to be kind to ourselves when we are suffering. We will be able to calm ourselves down when anxiety or depression overwhelms us by using mindfulness practices like meditation and living in the present moment. For example, if someone was depressed and mostly stayed in bed, they might start with scheduling activities with themselves (go for a walk, make a cup of coffee, read a good book, call a friend). They may also try to be kinder to themselves and say “It’s ok to be sad. I can allow this feeling to be here and learn to send kindness to the sadness. I can be curious towards this feeling without pushing it away or resisting it. I can be curious about the feeling and kind to myself.” DBT is about both allowing our feelings and learning to act in ways that can bring out greater healing. *** Counseling Credentials: Masters of social work, East Tennessee State University- Johnson City, TN. Bachelor’s degree in sociology, Milligan College, Elizabethton, TN. Certification: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, North Carolina Board of Social Workers Individual Counseling As a therapist working in Burnsville, I work with people who are struggling in my community. You may have only one main issue that your working on or there may be multiple. I’m here to work with you. My aim is to help you identify your problems and create goals to have you overcome the obstacles that you are facing. My ultimate goal is to empower you to create the life that you want. I have particular interest and experience in the following areas: + Relationship problems + Life direction + Meaning and purpose in life + Social anxiety + Low self-esteem + Work and career + Family or origin issues Rates: I accept BlueCross BlueShield and Cigna insurances. If you don’t have insurance or prefer not to bill your insurance company my private pay rate is $50 an hour.