Question 1

Why did you decide to become a counselor or psychiatric provider?

Accepted Answer

I became a counselor when I realized sitting with someone as they sorted out struggles in their life to then see them succeed brought a sense of calm over me. It is easy to get stuck in the negatives of the world and being there with someone as they navigate that and push through it shows that it is possible to persevere.

Question 2

What types of clients do you work with best?

Accepted Answer

Many of the clients I have worked with are middle school aged and adolescents. Through art activities, games, and talking, these kiddos have been able to learn and express themselves in a safe setting.

Question 3

What type of clients are you most excited to work with?

Accepted Answer

I am excited to continue working with kids and teens, but also with young adults. This period of time in our lives is so important to learning about ourselves and identifying our goals and core values.

Question 4

What's one thing you wish all clients knew?

Accepted Answer

That it is possible to push forward and continue. It can become overwhelming and difficult to see this, but you have the ability to survive and grow and become strong. It's okay to take two steps forward and one step back, we just need to remember to take another two steps forward after that.

Question 5

Why did you choose to practice at Thriveworks?

Accepted Answer

I chose to practice at Thriveworks because of the unity that the locations show. There is a sense of support all around from the get-go and it helps create the foundation of clinical work and flows out to the work with clients.

Question 6

What inspires you?

Accepted Answer

Previous clients I have worked with that reach out years later to talk about the success they have accomplished. Hearing the positive stories they have to share reminds me why I do what I do and pushes me forward to continue.

Question 7

What can clients expect in their first session with you?

Accepted Answer

During the first session, clients can expect to set some time aside to talk about what brought them to therapy and what they hope to accomplish. We will talk about expectations and goals and explore methods of reaching those goals.

Question 8

What do you want to accomplish with an individual in their first session?

Accepted Answer

Goal setting and understanding expectations. There are times clients assume it's a one and done deal with therapy so spending time talking about what therapy can actually look like is important.

Question 9

What should clients know about you before scheduling a first session?

Accepted Answer

That I am big on trying to make therapy fun! It doesn't always have to be focusing on the really hard and really scary things, and when it does get to those points, it can still be done in a way that isn't as scary or as hard.

Question 10

What do you do for fun/on your time off?

Accepted Answer

I like to play video games and spend time with my spouse and pets. I am also a big fan of thrift shopping and spending time with my friends if it isn't online playing games with them.

Question 11

What's one thing about you that defines you (non-professional)?

Accepted Answer

I often get told that I "go with the flow" of things. The world likes to throw curveballs and sometimes shifting gears on the spot needs to happen. This used to be pretty hard but growing up, I pushed myself to learn how to take a step back and evaluate what was in front of me and what I needed to do next.

Claire Donofrio