Sharifa Ahrendsen
Counsellor
I specialise in:
About me
Technical Stuff: I was trained at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: 4th best of its kind in USA. My study focus there was Clinical Social Work. This was a great addition to my bachelors in Psychology with a minor in Leadership Studies from University of Maryland, College Park. Now I help clients all over the world with 13 years and counting of experience, education, training and licensure.
Professional Stuff: My education led to my day job, private practice where I support people using talk therapy. My heart led me to create beyond pathology and find a way to apply macro social work approaches to micro (individual) common problems, so I created a mental health startup named Sit With. This project brings support groups, nature therapy, mental health self-help tools and social movements to empower individuals and communities. My time as a hospital emergency room support, child abuse prevention group therapy facilitator, university counseling center therapist, and serial entrepreneur I am my ancestors wildest dreams ^_^
Personal Stuff: I am a Black, queer, mother, wife, friend, author, neurospicy, system questioning over thinker so I’m always daydreaming of world peace. My passion is growing despite the healthcare industrial complex, to make the magic of talk therapy accessible, and to positively impact individuals and communities.
I speak:
Location:
Approach
I use a combination of modalities to best fit clients unique experiences. Clients respond most to psychodynamic, CBT, DBT, IFS, ACT, and integrative therapy tools and interventions.
I provide counseling (for short term solution focus problem solving like relationship conflict, work stress, grief, life transitions (moving), etc. and therapy (for long term persistent mental health needs like generalized anxiety disorder, depression, mood disorders, OCD, and more)
We always start with a few long sessions that walk down memory lane, known as an intake and assessment to put you in context. Then we focus on a symptom that have been very problematic to you recently (sleep, communication, brain fog, etc) to find relief. This usually happens by session 6, and builds confidence and connection in a therapeutic space allowing us to go deeper to the root of your problem session 6 and beyond.
I customise your treatment plan based on your goals and availability. Short term clients follow a system that focuses on feeling better quickly and solving a specific problem while long term follow a path of feeling better quickly, storytelling, and reconnecting with your authentic self (you before life happened to you).
Whichever approach interests you it is my responsibility and passion to empower you to be the leader in your life, to be your best caretaker for yourself, to present the version of yourself you’re most proud of and release burdens that weigh you down with fear and regret.
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