Areas of Practice
Sports Psychology
Dr. V specializes in sports psychology. She enjoys working with athletes to improve their mental health and wellness. Dr. V. is an athlete and has years of experience working with athletes at the high school, college, and professional levels. Dr. V. supports athletes to help restore overall well-being and performance. Areas of focus can include (but are not limited to): motivation, distress tolerance, coping with injury, goal setting, self-advocacy, communication, team leadership, visualization, building identities outside of sport, and transition out of sport. This allows athletes to enhance their mental toughness, sharpen their focus during performance, thrive in high pressure situations, build confidence, and grow in and out of the sport.
Mindfulness
Dr. V. consistently weaves mindfulness-based practices into her intervention sessions. Mindfulness provides a way for people to learn new ways of approaching their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Rather than viewing uncomfortable experiences as an enemy, people can learn to observe those feelings and be more purposeful in responding to them. This is especially true for children and teens who may not always respond well to traditional psychotherapy approaches. Dr. V. works to create meaningful experiences for clients, which leads to opportunities to practice mindfulness as it applies to everyday life.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) + Other Evidence-Based Therapies
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides the foundation for all of Dr. V.’s work. People are taught to step back from their experiences while examining the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors most relevant for their lives. By doing so, it is possible to be purposeful in making additional space for the helpful parts of our experience. CBT principles are applicable and effective for children, adolescents, and adults, and are considered the bedrock of modern psychotherapy. With Dr. V., you can expect to receive the latest CBT-based interventions tailored to meet your individual needs.
While CBT is the foundation of Dr. V.’s approach, she also incorporates elements of other evidence-based therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to create a tailored treatment plan that fits unique needs.
Diagnostic Assessments, Consult Services, Workshops
When a person experiences new difficulties at home, work, or school, it can be confusing for individuals and families who want to better understand the issues and get help. Dr. V. provides thorough diagnostic assessments to guide treatment decisions and provide clarity about the factors behind new or long-standing problems. Furthermore, continued assessments are woven into psychotherapy and sports psychology services to provide accurate measurements of treatment progress. Dr. V. is available for diagnostic consultations for difficult cases involving mood disturbance, anxiety, OCD, trauma, concentration/learning difficulties, and somatic symptoms for children, teens, and adults. Dr. V. especially enjoys leading educational workshops and trainings on various topics for diverse audiences.
Video Telehealth and In-Person Options
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. V. added the option of remote visits with clients and their families via video. Dr. V. is able to work with individuals with consistent access to reliable internet. Video interviews and psychotherapy sessions are compliant with federal HIPAA regulations to protect privacy. In-person appointments are also available.