Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to. It’s not for them.
I have always known that I wanted to help people. The way I thought I might do that has changed throughout the years, but I feel that I have followed my path right to where I am supposed to be. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2001, and then went right into the Master’s of Social Work program at IUPUI. I graduated in 2004 and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2007.
While I was in school doing internships, I had the opportunity to gain experience with people of all ages, with a wide variety of issues. I worked with toddlers in play therapy, adolescents in addiction treatment, adults with Bipolar Disorder, and older people dealing with grief and end of life issues. Right out of school, I started working as a community based therapist in Indianapolis. I worked with adults with severe mental illnesses—mood and thought disorders, particularly Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. I was there for a few years and then took a position as the team leader and Program Manager for the Assertive Community Treatment team in both Hancock and Shelby Counties. I continued providing therapy during that time, working with the same client population for seven years. For the last several years, I have been working in behavioral health care management.
My therapeutic approach is eclectic, drawing primarily from CBT, DBT and EMDR. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is an evidence based practice that focuses on identifying our negative thoughts and patterns, and then changing them. DBT, or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, is an evidence based treatment that teaches skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR uses eye movement or other bilateral stimulation to help reprocess traumatic or distressing memories or thoughts, and link them to adaptive thoughts. It is very effective in treating PTSD, as well as anxiety, depression, and panic disorder.
Change can be uncomfortable, so therapy is not easy. I’m glad you have decided to take the first step. I look forward to being a part of your journey.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker 34005452A
Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor 87001265A
Follow Concepts In Healing, LLC on Facebook and Instagram for your daily dose of education and inspiration:
Concepts In Healing, LLC Sherri Bidwell, LCSW, LCAC 