About Beth Levine, LCSW

Introduction

Hi!  Thanks for taking the time to find out more about me.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, having earned a master’s degree in Social Work from the National Catholic School of Social Service, Catholic University.  I have about 20 years of experience working with adults in individual and couple settings.

Ever since I was young, I thought about being a therapist.  Maybe it was when I saw Ordinary People.  I was envious of the therapist, played by Judd Hirsch, who had the opportunity to develop a deep and meaningful connection with Conrad, played by Timothy Hutton, and helped him go from a place of despair to a place of realizing his life force.  Wow!  What could be better than that?  Helping someone tap into their strengths and heal? Making the world a better place is a driving force for me.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) are the foundational models for my work.  After taking a training with Bessel van der Kolk, an expert in studying and treating trauma, I began to take trainings in models and techniques that are supported by research for their effectiveness for treating depression, anxiety, and trauma.

I find that having different techniques to choose from is useful because I don’t think that there is one technique or treatment method that works for everyone.  I can work with my clients to see what works best in our individual counseling or couple counseling.  In addition to IFS and EFT, the techniques I draw from include emotional freedom techniques, somatic experiencing, Mindfulness-Based Mind Fitness, expressive therapies, and movement.

People ask me what my style is like.  I find it hard to describe, but I’ll do my best.  I am collaborative.  I am interactive.  I like to bring in humor when appropriate. (Nothing like bathing the brain and body in serotonin.)  I point out patterns.  I ask questions.  I reflect what I am seeing.  I use the relationship to promote healing. I can be pragmatic and solution focused.  I can offer behavioral changes. I work to promote curiosity.  I draw from different modalities and life experience.

I believe in therapy.  I have struggled with depression, anxiety, and relationships. Individual therapy has helped me live more authentically, trust myself to handle life’s challenges, and have healthy relationships.  Therapy can be hard, but it’s worth it.

If you think we would be a good fit, the next step is to call or email me so we can schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation.  If that goes well, then I recommend that we have an initial session. Having a session is probably the best way to tell if you think I would be a good fit.

I am thankful to the many people who have shared their lives with me and taught me about people’s courage and capacity to heal and change.

Beth’s Philosophy

It is hard to narrow down my philosophy of individual therapy or couple counseling to one option, but I want to share with you the following way of looking at ourselves, our relationships, and life that I, and others, find helpful.

The 400+ year old Japanese art of kintsugi (golden repair) or kintsukuroi (golden joinery) honors the pottery’s unique history by emphasizing, not hiding, any breaks or cracks.

This philosophy embraces flaws and imperfections and acknowledges that “scars” are a part of the unique design.

Kintsugi offers us an important metaphor:  In the process of healing ourselves or our relationships, we can create something more unique, beautiful, and resilient.

Embracing this philosophy, can help us deal with depression, despair, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, loneliness, and trauma, among other life’s challenges.

Trainings/Certificates

Certificates

Advanced Trauma Treatment – Level I (The Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy)

Level I Certification in Internal Family Systems (IFS Institute)

Emotional Freedom Techniques – Professional Skills I (Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology)

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy)

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy Supervisor – for therapists earning their Certification (International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy)

Highlighted Trainings

Somatic Experiencing

Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score

Mindfulness-Based Mind Fitness

Self-Compassion

Education

LCSW-C, National Catholic University, School of Social Work

MBA, University of Rochester, The Simon Business School

Professional Presentations/Activities

September 2017.  Published article, Enhancing Therapeutic Effectiveness When Working with Vegan Clients, News & Views, The Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work.

June 2016. Published article, Food for Thought, New & Views, The Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work.

2015. Interviewed by Elisabeth Brown for Freedom2Do (http://www.freedom2do.com/its-okay-to-get-help/).

September 2011 through April 2012. Assisted EFT trainer, Rebecca Jorgensen, with Core Skills Advanced Training (4 weekend-long trainings) to EFT colleagues.

September 2010 through April 2011. Assisted EFT trainer, Rebecca Jorgensen, with Core Skills Advanced Training (4 weekend-long trainings) to EFT colleagues.

September 2010 through June 2011. Led Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) supervision group for EFT colleagues based on the training manual, Becoming an Emotionally Focused Couple Therapist: The Workbook.  Met once a month.

March 2009. Through The Greater Washington Society of Clinical Social Work, I presented  Introduction to Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy.

October 2008. Through The Greater Washington Society of Clinical Social Work, I presented Attachment Theory, Love and Neurobiology.  In this course, I talked about eight ways in which Attachment Theory informs couple work, and the research that helps us understand the neurobiology of when couples have a secure attachment and when they are in distress.

January 2008. As part of the above training, I presented on Attachment Theory and Work with Couples. My presentation was titled: Eight Ways That Attachment Theory Informs Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT).

January 2008.  Attachment Theory:  Basic Concepts and Clinical Applications in Work with Individuals, Couples and Children. I coordinated the training with Mauricio Cortina, MD, Director, Attachment and Human Development Center.

Professional Memberships

I am a member of:

• Greater Washington Society of Clinical Social Work
• International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy
• National Association of Social Workers