Rachel Elizabeth Spence
Professional Certifications and Licenses
I am a board certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia, and have a Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and am well equipped to work with clients from different cultural backgrounds and with diverse perspectives.
I have also completed a post-graduate Fellowship Program with the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, and I am a professional member of the Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Services Offered
As a therapist, I have experience working with a wide range of presenting issues and consider my approach to be applicable to a variety of clinical presentations. However, I specialize in working with adults coping with grief, depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction issues and codependency.
I consider myself to be psychodynamic and person-centered in my therapeutic approach. I believe that much of the symptoms that we struggle with in the present have their origin in past experiences. Thus, much of my work focuses on developing insight into the connections between the past and present as a means to resolve conflicts. As a person-centered therapist, I do not believe that it is the therapist’s job to “fix” the client; rather, I believe that all people already have within them the tools and capacity to resolve their own problems. The therapy hour is meant to provide an ideal environment that is conducive towards learning how to utilize these inner strengths and achieve personal growth. I also recognize that every client situation is unique, and it is often appropriate to draw from other clinical methodologies and approaches to ensure client success. The overarching goal and passion of my work is to help individuals build healthy perceptions of themselves and healthy relationships with others.
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