My name is Sekai and I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Michigan and Vermont. I earned my Master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Michigan in 2007. In 2000 I earned a Master’s of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing from Antioch - Los Angeles. I received my Bachelor’s from the University of Wisconsin. I strongly believe that writing can improve mental health and guide us through challenges in our lives. I often use writing therapy in individual sessions with clients and in groups. In addition to writing therapy, other treatment modalities I use include CBT, DBT, ACT, SFT, Attachment-based, Empowerment, Eclectic, and MI. I am also a great lover of books and fierce advocate of bibliotherapy. I often use bibliotherapy in conjunction with other treatment approaches. Prior to going into private practice as a clinical therapist, I worked for various non-profits and advocated for survivors of domestic violence, members of the LGBTQIA community, sexual assault survivors, children in foster care, the unhoused, and abandoned and orphaned children in Zimbabwe. I am a proud recipient of the Promise Award granted by the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault for my advocacy work with survivors. I have facilitated support groups for caregivers, women living with depression, and women with Complex Trauma. I have also worked with clients living with stress and anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, various forms of grief, cultural and racial identity issues, family of origin conflicts, personality disorders, disordered eating and body image issues. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion in a non judgmental space. I tailor treatment plans to meet the unique needs of each client. It takes courage to be vulnerable enough to reach out and take the first steps towards change. I am honored to support you, empower you, and walk beside you on that journey.
Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Eating disorders, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Adoption and foster care, Body image, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Co-morbidity, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Eating and food-related issues, Emptiness, Expats, Guilt and shame, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-harm, Self-love, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems
MI LMSW 6801089732