Julie Richardson, LCSW
Individual and Family Therapist
Sessions Offered:
- Adult and adolescent sessions
are conducted via telemedicine.
- Children (aged 4-11) will be seen in person.
What I Can Help With
I have been a therapist for many years, and have expertise in almost every area of mental health. I provide a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere, where you will be able to explore feelings and find solutions to your problems. I am a nonjudgmental person and I will be able to help you feel at ease if you are nervous about coming for therapy. I use a wide variety of treatment types and techniques including cognitive behavioral therapy, which has been proven as the most effective therapy. You'll increase your positive, realistic thinking while reducing negative, fear-based thoughts.
Anxiety and stress: Anxiety is the result of long-term, chronic stress complicated by genetic factors. Symptoms may include excessive worrying, feelings of restlessness, sleep disturbance, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and physical symptoms including panic attacks. Anxiety is prevalent in today's society and is often alleviated with therapeutic intervention. Therapy will initially focus on providing immediate symptom relief by incorporating stress management techniques, including meditation, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing exercises. We will develop coping strategies that will provide you with a sustained decrease in anxiety and a heightened sense of control over worries. As your awareness and use of therapeutic tools improve, a sense of calm will accompany your everyday life.
Depression: Lack of energy, tearfulness, poor motivation, poor concentration,
hopelessness, lack of interest in activities, and sleep and appetite disturbances are typical symptoms of depression. When depression gets really deep, some people experience suicidal thoughts or wishes. Some people may have the desire to ‘cut’ or self harm in other ways. With counseling, it is usually possible to find a path to restore hope in life. I will help you access the inner strength you need to overcome barriers and to find new ways to enjoy living.
Family Therapy: Family is our most precious asset. Don't rely on chance to manage your family. I am an expert in Bowen Family Systems Therapy and Functional Family Therapy, which is a fancy way to say I have the skills you need to put you and your loved ones on the right track. With my help, the time spent with your family will be meaningful and fun.
Self Esteem: Poor self esteem is at the root of many psychological problems. Often self esteem falls due to difficult childhood experiences, child abuse, or abusive relationships. Let me help you, through cognitive behavioral therapy, to have a more realistic, positive attitude about yourself.
Bipolar Disorder: When your moods shift unpredictably it can be frustrating. Some mood changes can be normal, but if your moods are extreme and impair your ability to manage day-to-day life you may need help. Treatment of bipolar disorder is complex. There are many helpful tools including mood charting, planning, relaxation therapy, and cognative behavioral therapy. Typically medication is helpful and we do have medical providers in the practice. Your loved ones will see the real you as you gain more control of your life.
Gay and Lesbian Issues (G.L.T.B.Q.I.): Although being gay or lesbian is not a mental health problem in its own right, problems arise because of our society’s resistance to embrace differences. With me, you will be able to explore your relationships, emotions and concerns without any judgment about sexuality. Whether you are open about your sexuality or have chosen to stay “in the closet”, I can help you to develop a balanced, fulfilling life.
Communication: Whether we are at work, at school, or at home with our family, we are communicating. Poor communication occurs when we fail to express our feelings, when we ignore others’ feelings, and when we are disrespectful. Many times, our messages are not sent or received as intended. In therapy, you will be given concrete steps for effective communication and
we will use the therapy sessions to practice good communication. Addressing the communication conflicts of one issue will generalize to other areas of life, providing you with a solid set of tools for effective communication within all of your relationships.
Marriage Counseling: Let me help you with marital stresses. I rely heavily on the research of John Gottman, Ph.D. in my work with couples. First we will restore the friendship at the core of your relationship. Next we will gather tools to navigate diagreement when conflict is low, so that destructive cycles are broken. From there, communication skills, emotional awareness, and mindfulness will be enhanced. We will work to restore trust and respect. Get back to the happy couple you once were.
Anger Management: If your anger is ruining the harmony in your home, you may need help harnessing it. Often there are underlying problems that need to be addressed. We can allieviate the issues at the root of your irritability and also teach you some basic anger management tools.
Obsessive compulsive disorder: This problem involves repeated unnecessary actions such as handwashing, checking and re-checking, contamination and hoarding. While some of these things happen at times for anyone, it becomes an issue when it interferes with living a normal, relaxed life. Obsessive thoughts are thoughts that are repetative and disturbing. I am an expert in helping people regain control of their lives with proven methods for preventing the compulsive behaviors, and managing the obsessive thoughts.
Trauma and PTSD: Trauma impairs our ability to be in the here-and-now and diminishes our capacity to live a normal life. Trauma is widespread and is defined by anything that overwhelms us and keeps us stuck in either the fight, flight or freeze response. Trauma requires us to evolve, heal and become more resilient so that we can fully experience all of life's pleasures. Psychotherapy has been found to be the most beneficial tool in recovering from trauma. With competent guidance, heightened awareness and simple exercises, you will be able to eradicate old, traumatic symptoms and re-regulate your entire nervous system. As you begin to recover from trauma you will experience a greater sense of freedom to enjoy your life.
Dissociative Disorders. When life becomes too painful, some people develop an ability to mentally separate themselves from their world. They may have a different personality take over, or may just be “out of it” for a period of time. This is usually a coping mechanism learned by children in abusive environments. It is not an effective way to manage stress as an adult however, and I can give you the support necessary to decrease these episodes.
Hoarding: Is your house so full of possessions that it is no longer functional as a home? Are rooms inaccessible or too cluttered to use? Have things gotten so bad that it is overwhelming to think about making a change? I have had a lot of success helping people deal with these problems. There are so many different reasons hoarding begins; our first step would be to determine the root of the problem. Then we can strategize about turning things around.
Eating Disorders: This includes anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, orthorexia or any other unusual eating problem. These conditions are very serious and should not be downplayed. I will provide the counseling and serve as your advisor in lining up other professionals we may need. We will work on body image, control issues, social fears, and perfectionism.
Parenting: As the old saying goes, no one gets an education on parenting. I have an arsenal of parenting tactics that I will give you, to handle whatever your kids are dishing out. I will meet with the children alone, to get an idea of their style and needs, and then customize a plan that will work for you.
Grief: Unfortunately, the only certainty in life is that we all, at some point, experience loss. Therapy provides a safe, caring environment that allows you to grieve in your own way. This therapeutic relationship will help you to reframe your current situation and gain strength in dealing with the daily tasks in life. You will learn to express your feelings and needs more readily so that you can transition into the next phase of your life.
Weight Loss: Weight issues are a major source of unhappiness for many people. We will explore
causes for weight problems and develop a treatment plan accordingly. Experience the joy that comes from living a healthy lifestyle.
Addictions: Addictions are a common force in our society that drives us to seek pleasure and avoid pain. An addiction is a habit or practice that damages, or jeopardizes one's life and relationships with others. People can become addicted to many things including, alcohol, drugs, work, sex, video games, gambling and food. Millions of high-functioning Americans suffer from addictions, yet seemingly don’t know it. The best way to determine if we have an addiction is to evaluate our repetitive behavior and determine if it takes precedence over, or causes problems in our relationships with others. Addictions hinder our personal growth and leave us ill-equipped to deal with stress in a healthy way. Therapy is the conduit that best treats addiction. While in therapy, you will gain the ability to identify and incorporate new, healthier ways of dealing with the ups and downs of life. Therapy will teach you cognitive methods to identify triggering events that drive you to engage in addictions. You will learn to observe your thoughts and feelings and subsequently increase your tolerance for emotional distress rather than reacting to your impulses.
Personality disorders: Some of the personality disorders that I treat are borderline personality, dependent personality, narcissistic personality and avoidant personality disorder.