The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination.~ Carl Rogers
Changing Directions
Get a fresh perspective on a difficult problem and make a shift toward better solutions. Therapy can help you to understand yourself and your personal goals and values better. It can help you develop skills to engage in healthy relationships and put yourself first. It can also help you find positive ways to cope during difficult times.
The success of our work together depends on the quality of the efforts on both our parts and realization that ultimately you are responsible for change in your life. I will work with you to reflect on that and to make some important changes in your life.
Online Therapy
Times change and so does therapy. We use our phones and laptops for everything and improving your mental health and well-being shouldn't be any different. With the internet entering and transforming gradually our everyday lives, the way we reach out to each other for help is changing. Online therapy is becoming more and more popular and it is proven to be as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy.
With that being said, you should not expect anything less from our online sessions with private video conferencing.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term for addressing mental health concerns by talking with a mental health provider. During psychotherapy, you learn about your condition and your moods, feelings, thoughts and behaviors. Psychotherapy helps you learn how to take control of your life and respond to challenging situations with healthy coping skills.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a type of psychotherapy (or "talk therapy") that is based on the theory that psychological symptoms are related to the interaction of thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. In cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapist and client will work on identifying and directly changing negative or problematic thoughts and behaviors.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative Therapy is a method of therapy that separates a person from their problem. It encourages people to rely on their own skills to minimize problems that exist in their lives.
Throughout life, personal experiences become personal stories. People give these stories meaning, and the stories help shape a person’s identity.
Solution Focused Therapy
Solution Focused Therapy aims to help people experiencing difficulty find tools they can use immediately to manage symptoms and cope with challenges, is grounded in the belief that although individuals may already have the skills to create change in their lives, they often need help identifying and developing those skills.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR attends to the experiences (trauma, painful memories, problematic behavior, negative thinking) that have set the groundwork for pathology, the current situations that trigger dysfunctional emotions, beliefs and sensations, and the positive experience needed to enhance future adaptive behaviors and mental health.
Private Practice
Dr. Burns has provided psychotherapy since 1993 to children, adolescents and adults through both individual and family therapy. She specializes in anxiety, attachment, depression, developmental issues, conduct, oppositional defiant, and trauma related disorders.
Professor
Dr. Burns teaches clinical courses to graduate social work students and hires and oversees all faculty for the Socialwork@simmons program. She maintains all administrative/academic components of the course section, including grading of assignments and exams, and any relevant field-related activities. She fosters and encourages a culture of learning that values mutual responsibility, life-long learning, diversity, and ethics, as well as personal and professional development.
Consultant
Dr. Burns has over twenty-five years of experience providing supervision, mentorship and guidance to MSW students, new to the field social workers and seasoned colleagues alike.
Dr. Burns Bio
Dr. Burns is also an Associate Professor at several Universities in New England. She has been a practicing social worker in Maine for 30 years. Previously she was a private consultant working with social service agencies assisting with accreditation, licensing, and the development and coordination of clinical programs. She has extensive experience providing training and supervision to M.S.W. students and clinical social workers. She has experience developing, designing, and implementing course content for graduate social work students. Currently, she has a private practice serving children, adolescents, and adults using a variety of treatment modalities. In addition to her social work degrees, Dr. Burns holds a Master's degree in Theology.
What to Expect
The first session is a time for us to discuss what issues you would like to work on. It is a time for us to decide if we are a good fit to work together. I will collect information and answer any questions you might have about my style, techniques, and methods utilized to help you address your concerns. It is usually my recommendation for you to commit to three sessions. During this process, I will help you tackle a specific or general problem. A wide range of techniques and strategies can be used. However, almost all types of psychotherapy involve developing a therapeutic relationship, communicating and creating a dialogue, and working to overcome problematic thoughts or behaviors.
Confidential Information
All information you share with me will be kept confidential. It will not be shared with others without your consent. Under certain circumstances, I am legally mandated to share information with someone else if there are threats of serious harm to yourself or others, reasonable suspicion of child abuse, abuse of elders, or any incapacitated person, or if I am court-ordered to report information. In all of these situations, I will notify you first if I need to report a concern about you.
Fee, Session Time, & Financial Responsibility
My fee is $145.00 for an initial session and $110.00 per session, to be paid in full by you at the close of each session. You may pay with cash, check, debit, or credit card. Sessions are 45-50 minutes long unless otherwise stated. I will provide you with a receipt to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. If for any reason, your insurance company does not pay for my services, you’ll be responsible to cover all fees. These conditions apply unless alternate arrangements are agreed upon. If you need to cancel a session please notify the office within 24 hours.
Clinical Consultation
The supervisory relationship is one that must possess respect, trust, and openness by both the supervisor and supervisee. Supervision is an ongoing and evolving process to enhance clinical and professional skills, knowledge, and attitudes. Emphasis is placed on mastering competency in clinical skills and increasing your identity as a Clinical Social Worker.
I offer Clinical Social Work Supervision that is designed to enhance your clinical and professional skills, knowledge, and attitudes in order to achieve competency in your Social Work identity and in providing quality clinical care. Please check with the Maine State Board for requirements around supervision consultation. Click here for the board's rules & regulations regarding the clinical supervision process.