Natalie Clark,LCSW

I am a licensed clinical social work, and a licensed chemical dependency professional. I live in Cranston, Rhode Island, and have been practicing therapy both telephonically, and by video. I work with men women, couples and families who are facing conflicts, emotional challenges, or adjusting to changes in their lives. I have over 25 years of clinical experience, working with those who struggle with mental health and substance use disorders.

I typically use strengths based, solution focused, client centered and motivational interviewing therapy approaches. Using an eclectic, collaborative approach, individual to a person's needs, I work with each patient to identify their individual goals and needs. I will then determine which therapeutic modalities and holistic treatments would be beneficial to help them attain their goals.

I have over 25 years' experience working in a variety of modalities and settings. This experience and years of working with people who struggle and live with mental health issues, substance use, grief, andor trauma has provided me with the skills necessary to guide and support those who are seeking help.

I provide a nonjudgmental, welcoming approach and make an effort to establish a strong trusting relationship. I believe a therapeutic relationship is built on trust and the ability to be transparent without fear of judgement.

I was strongly driven to help people who were struggling with substance use disorders, so I began taking classes at a R.I. community college at 36 years old and earned an associate degree in substance abuse. I knew I needed to develop a stronger clinical base, so I immediately went on to R.I. College and completed a bachelor's degree in social work. ln the mean time I had pursued and earned a license in chemical dependency. I worked for a variety of modalities providing substance abuse counseling. I felt a sense of real satisfaction and loved seeing the lives of many people begin to improve. Being able to provide individuals with the support and resources they needed to live a stronger and drug free life became my career goal. After many years I returned to that same state college and earned a master's degree in social work and began working with high-risk adolescents. I worked in this setting for about 10 years and then began working in an outpatient agency working with a very wide range of mental health and substance use issues. I believe being a therapist was what I was meant to do and has become my academic and career goal since 1989.

Therapy is a process to help an individual better understand themselves, their strengths, and their limitations. I can assist individuals in attaining personal goals and help to guide and develop strategies to manage emotionally difficult times.

My first session is typically an opportunity for the client to identify their purpose for seeking therapy, and identify what their goal may be. It is to better understand what the clients expectations are, and the therapist to begin to demonstrate a non-judgemental, and safe environment.