Coping Skills, Self Esteem, Relationships, Anxiety, Depression
Accepted insurance & self-pay
About Natasha
Natasha Bavolar is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with athletes and young adults on topics of identity development, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, suicidality, intimate and familial relationships, and disordered eating. Natasha has 10 years of experience in the mental health field, working with a variety of ages and presentations in multiple settings, from inpatient to after-school programming. The last four years of Natasha’s career have been in college mental health, working with undergraduate and graduate students. Her goal has always remained the same: creating a space where clients feel authentic, open, and heard.
Natasha completed her Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Johns Hopkins University. Her transparent and authentic nature is something her clients connect with easily, regardless of background, age, or interest differences. As a white, queer woman, Natasha is not afraid to name the identities she holds and ask clients how they feel working with someone who holds them, especially if racial trauma or race-related challenges are what bring them to therapy. It is Natasha’s passion to help clients identify the puzzle they are stuck on, help them rearrange the pieces so they may see them in a different way, and ultimately allow them to see they had the skills within them all along. They just needed some help to find them once again.
Natasha will carry the pain with you, sit in the dark alongside you, and hold onto the hope for you until you are ready to carry it again for yourself. The first step, reaching out, is often the hardest and, in Natasha’s opinion, the bravest step of the therapeutic process. It requires a vulnerability and a naming of something that is often so hard to come to grips with–especially when you live in such an individualistic society. You are not weak, you are not wrong, you are not broken. If you are deciding whether or not to try, or try again, Natasha will meet you where you are and you will figure out where to go next, together. She utilizes techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and strengths-based philosophies while being open to incorporating other modalities in order to meet your goals. Your goals are Natasha’s goals; you will co-create a plan to tackle your challenges together, evolving your sessions to ensure you are getting what you need to get to where you want to go.
"Once you take the first step of coming to therapy, my goal is that you leave each session with something tangible to practice or utilize; we are a team, you are no longer carrying this on your own."
Get to know Natasha
Why did you decide to become a counselor?
Ever since I was young, I always wondered why people did what they did. After some of my own life experiences within my family system and undergraduate studies, I knew I wanted to be a source of support I wish I had then. I have always felt emotions intensely and often wished someone was able to sit in them with me; I strive to create that unconditional support for my clients so they know no matter what emotion, thought, or behavior comes up they will not be alone in facing it.
What types of clients to you work with best?
I enjoy working with clients who are either ambivalent or motivated to work on the challenges they are currently facing - for so many people, they're not sure if they want to change, yet they know they cannot keep going on the way they are. That's okay - you don't need to know where the path leads in order to take your first step.
What type of clients are you most excited to work with?
I enjoy most working with clients who are young adults, grappling with identity development, relationships, anxiety, depression, suicidality, athletes, or existential qualms. I enjoy exploring and identifying the root cause to their symptoms and addressing the challenges holistically, taking into account their biopsychosocial influences and systems of oppression so both the client and I can better understand how to create effective and authentic coping skills and paths forward.
What’s one thing you wish all clients knew?
You are not too much, you are not overbearing, you are not weak or less than. And although you may feel profoundly lonely, you are never, truly alone.
Why did you choose to practice at Thriveworks?
The practice is authentically dedicated to providing clients with the best therapeutic experience possible and will work with both the clinicians and the clients alike to ensure the clients are getting what they desire out of their therapeutic relationship. It is essential both the clinicians and the clients feel supported so each can show up for the other so the goals of therapy can be met and effective treatment can be given.
What inspires you?
Underdogs, the way my dog sees the world, seeing more and more diversity of identities in positions of power and influence, witnessing the moments where things "click" for my clients, and children.
What can clients expect in their first session with you?
Clients can expect to feel like they can take the edge off, a little weight off their shoulders. They can expect to feel heard, seen, and authentically cared for. They can expect to walk away with something tangible they can take with them to ponder, utilize, or practice.
What do you want to accomplish with an individual in their first session?
Establishing a sense of mutual understanding, a feeling of being heard, perhaps even a sliver of hope. It is incredibly hard to summarize what in your life has led you to this first session, yet I hope we accomplish a sense of that so we can, together, begin to co-create a path forward.
What do you do for fun/on your time off?
Play frisbee or hike with my dog, go camping, shop for and play my vinyl records, and be front row at my various pop punk concerts monthly.
What should clients know about you before scheduling a first counseling session?
Whether you know what you're feeling or not, whether you know what is bothering you or not, whether you believe things can get better or not, I am here now, and we will figure all of that out, together.
Other areas of focus
Education and training
- Years in practice
- 10 years
- Graduating institute
- Johns Hopkins University
- Graduating degree
- Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Additional details
Practice information
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