providing therapy for young adults and adults

As a psychotherapist and clinical social worker for over 15 years, I see my role as offering a therapeutic space and relationship for people facing emotional and life challenges and helping them to develop the understanding and tools needed to live life to the fullest. I founded Ivy Center with the goal of providing a range of therapeutic services for young adults to help them succeed emotionally, socially academically, and in their career. I want every client to have a positive therapeutic experience and feel they can count on Ivy Center and their therapist to receive the therapy and other services needed to meet their personal goals and feel positive and hopeful about their future.

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approach to therapy

Depending on each client's unique personality and needs, I use techniques from one or a combination of approaches. I've been trained in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Relational Psychotherapy, Family Systems Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Exposure Response Prevention Therapy (for OCD, panic disorder, travel anxiety, social anxiety, and phobias), and mild-moderate eating disorders/disordered eating. I'm always learning new techniques so I can be as effective as possible for my clients. In the context of a trusting therapeutic relationship, I help my clients develop new ways of understanding themselves, improve coping skills, and increase their capacity to reach short -term or long-term goals. I bring sincerity, empathy, and humor to the therapeutic process. 

 

specialties

Anxiety Disorders (generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, panic disorder, travel, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety), Depression, Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders (OCD), Eating Disorders and Body Image Issues, Relationship Issues (romantic/peer/work/family), School/Work Issues, Work/Life Balance, Identity/Self-Discovery, Life Transitions, and current issues related to living through the pandemic and BLM movement.

 

background

Laura M. DeNatale, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over fifteen years. She earned her master’s in Clinical Social Work and an Advanced Psychotherapy Certificate from the University of Chicago, and her doctorate from the Institute for Clinical Social Work. In addition to her work as a psychotherapist, Dr. DeNatale has worked as a Mental Health Consultant for organizations, Masters Level Field Consultant and Field Instructor, Clinical Director, and Masters and Doctoral level Adjunct Professor. She has conducted and published research in the areas of human development and mental health consultation. Dr. DeNatale founded Ivy Center for Social Work in 2016.

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