Q: Welcome to the Relationship Counseling Center of Maryland (RCC), Diamond! We are excited to have you on staff as a therapist. What has been the most exciting part about working with us and our clients?
A: RCC clients come in ready to hit the ground running, meaning they are engaged in the therapy process and ready to do the work that yields the results that they want to see. The therapist plays an integral role in the therapeutic process, but without the commitment of the couple, therapy will not be successful. RCC clients seem to have an understanding for this as soon as they walk through the door and are ready to start making positive changes.
Q: In your style of therapy, do you like to tackle the main issue head-on, or focus on the deeper issues first?
A: I like to tackle the main issue, head-on. Clients often come to us in crisis and are looking for immediate support. However, while working on the main issue, you will often find that deeper issues come up and we can begin to work on them simultaneously as the deeper issues have often led to the main issue.
Q: Have you yourself been to therapy?
A: Yes, I am currently in therapy. I 100% believe in the benefits of therapy and having a safe space to freely express one’s self. I also believe that therapy is a great tool for self-improvement and personal growth.
Q: What was the moment you realized you wanted to be a marriage and family therapist?
A: I always knew that I wanted to work with families in some capacity. In my undergraduate program, I was drawn to Family Science and did a lot research on families. During this time, I learned about the importance of having a strong, cohesive family and how that leads to positive outcomes for children. With this knowledge, I knew that I wanted a career where I could help families and couples build and maintain strong, healthy relationships; that led me to marriage and family therapy.
Q: What do you like most about working with people?
A: Working with people keeps me on my toes. As a therapist, there is a never a dull day at work. I enjoy being able to learn something new everyday and having the opportunity to view the world through someone else’s perspective.
Q: Outside of being a therapist, what are some of your hobbies or things you do for self-care?
A: I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. For self-care, exercise if often my go-to. When it gets warmer out, I like to spend as much time outdoors as possible. I also like to travel when I can and try new things in new places. Something that I have also been practicing is setting boundaries with others and knowing what energy I have to spend and when I need to focus on myself more.
Q: In your experience, what is the most important thing that can strengthen a relationship?
A: The most important thing that can strengthen a relationship is intimacy and feeling connected to one another. As I stated before, I think we often get wrapped up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle that we often forget to pay attention to our relationships and our partners, which can lead to a decrease in intimacy. Our relationships require hard work and attention and when we give them what they need, we create strong, healthy relationships.
