About Beth Levine, LCSW

Introduction

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

I see therapy room as your safe space where you can come and release the weight you have been carrying. As a therapist, I hope to expand the idea of how individual therapy can feel. In session, I seek to provide a safe, warm, nonjudgmental space where you can be understood. I am deeply engaged and my style adapts to your needs at the moment and varies from deeply focused to gently supportive to practical to playful.

I rely heavily on Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), and bring in mindfulness, self-compassion,  emotional freedom techniques, body-oriented psychotherapies, polyvagal theory, expressive therapies, journal therapy, and movement.

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 bringing over 25 years of experience to my work, I also bring the belief that we are a complex being of mind, body, spirit, family, community, and culture. My style is warm, open, engaged, creative, and compassionate. In individual therapy session, I am active, interactive, responsive, curious, respectful, mindful, and offer feedback, tools, and techniques in a collaborative way. I work at a deep level, and, I am practical and down to earth.

I am collaborative.  I am interactive.  I foster curiosity and compassion and interest. I notice patterns.  I like to bring in humor when appropriate. (Nothing like bathing the brain and body in serotonin.)  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 draw from life experience.

In individual therapy, I partner with people to help them explore their inner and outer life, transform their pain, and discover who they have the chance to become with support, guidance, and nurturing.

I listen close with my ear and with my heart even closer.

People that I work with often say that they experience many positive changes that they never anticipated.

I am in awe of the transformative power of curiosity and courage. By helping people in individual therapy look through this lens, I have seen many people break through their barriers and live more authentically, more connected to themselves, others, and the world around them, as well as living well amid the highs and lows of life.

I am aware that every individual has a unique background, culture, and distinctive lived experiences. I try to make no assumptions and treat each individual as the expert in their own life.

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 earned my Certificate in Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), am Level 1 Certified in Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Certified in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT).

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 help him go from a place of despair to a place of realizing his life force.  Wow!  That resolnated for me:  helping someone tap into their strengths and heal. Making the world a better place is a driving force for me.

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.

Certificates/Trainings

Certificates

Janina Fisher’s Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Training Level 2 (CCTP-II): Treatment of Complex Trauma and Dissociative Disorders

Janina Fisher’s Trauma Treatment Certification Training (CCTP): The Latest Advances and Proven Techniques to Resolve Deeply Held Trauma (Psychotherapy Networker)

Shame and Self-Loathing in the Treatment of Trauma, Janina Fisher (Academy of Therapy Wisdom)

Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment Certification, Janina Fisher (Academy of Therapy Wisdom)

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)

Additional Trainings

Shame and Self-Loating in the Treatment of Trauma with Janina Fisher, PhD

Compassionate Inquiry in Action: An Experiential Course for the Healing of Deep Traumatic Wounds with Gabor Mate

Inside and Outside Threat:   Mind-Body Approaches to Fear and Threat with Janina Fisher, PhD

Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors:  Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) with Janina Fisher, PhD

The Living Legacy of Trauma with Janina Fisher, PhD:  Tangible Tools to Transform Clinical Practice

Chronic Pain & Trauma with Janina Fisher, PhD

Emotional Freedom Techniques – Professional Skills 1

2-Day:  Trauma Conference:  The Body Keeps Score – Trauma Healing with Bessel van der Kolk, MD

Healing from the Bottom Up:  How to Help Clients Access Resources States with Peter Levine

Treating Trauma Clients at the Edge:  How Brain Science Can Inform Interventions with Frank Anderson, MD

Deb Dana’s Polyvagal Informed Master Class

Mindfulness-Based Mind Fitness Training with Elizabeth A. Stanley, PhD

Self-Compassion, Chris Germer

Education

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

Professional Presentations and 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