Find a Therapist

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As your therapist, you are my focus and we will work together to build a life that you deserve and find fulfillment in.  We will explore why we do what we do, not with judgment but with compassion. All behaviors make sense and you will gain insight to explain behaviors and learn to heal from previous hurts. There is no room for judgement in my sessions, we are learning the root causes of unskillful behaviors and how to interact in the world, develop healthy relationships, all while maintaining your needs and acting in congruence with your values. We will create goals for therapy and celebrate the successes (large or small), and continue to build on the progress.  

I have years of experience working with adolescents, family conflict, eating disorders, parenting challenges, and couples. 

My therapy style is client focused and I use a wide variety of techniques to tailor to the clients needs. 

I am a family therapist by training and use a Structural Family Therapy approach to identify the needs of the family system, identify the problematic cycles and the internal strengths, and improve the overall functioning. I can help families learn to manage the challenges of parenting adolescents with big feelings in a safe relationship that develops trust and respect. 

I teach my clients healthy coping skills with a blend of cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. You will learn how to allow space for being uncomfortable and gain confidence to be able to regulate your emotions and not let your emotions control you.  Emotional progress is not linear and I will be here with you during the ups and downs. 

My goal as a therapist is to create a safe environment for all clients in order to work alongside you in reaching your goals. I believe in being authentic and comfortable with you and will encourage you to do the same. I strive to use my natural curiosity to emphasize cultural humility within therapeutic relationships making them a judgement free zone.

My experiences are wide-ranging including settings such as outpatient community mental health, adult and youth residential placements, inpatient units, etc. She has provided services to both individuals and couples, working on issues such as anxiety, depression, neurodivergences, anger management, substance use, psychosis, trauma, intimacy and sexual concerns, family discord, communication, and so much more. My therapy style is tailored to each client and what works best for you. I am comfortable using multiple approaches and tools to help you reach your goals.

As your therapist, my goal first and foremost
is to ensure that you feel deeply seen, heard, and understood. Many individuals seek therapy because they are suffering in some way, and I am here to remind you that you do not have to go through this chapter alone. From an existential lens, suffering is an innate part of life. However, we can create meaning in this suffering and forge a new path. When we become victims of our suffering over prolonged periods of time, we are powerless. When we create meaning from suffering, we are powerful. 

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, substance use, life transitions or purpose, we will find meaning and solutions together.  I utilize an eclectic blend of approaches such as existentialism, internal family systems, and motivational interviewing to cater to your specific desires and needs. We will walk this path as fellow travelers. Let’s take the first step together.

Therapy can be an intimating space if you have had challenges with past therapists or the mental health system, or if you are new to the experience. My aim is for this space to be person centered and be about what is of importance to you in all aspects of your care. I hope to welcome everyone in as they are to a space where you can explore your identity, grow your resiliency, coping skills, and process life events or stressors. With my experiences at my MSW internship, I have worked with teenagers with DBT, polyvagal theory (a somatic approach), CBT, in combination with expressive arts or interactive activities. These are some different approaches to increase mindfulness of our physical and mental state, as well as, finding avenues to regulate oneself, and increase interpersonal effectiveness. I would be honored to be apart of your mental health journey. 

I believe anyone can benefit from therapy and as your therapist I will work with you to identify how you feel most supported and heard. As a therapist I take a warm, calming approach to help build a safe and productive space. Together we will create a plan with achievable goals that guide treatment. 

I specialize in working with teens and young adults with an additional focus on women's mental health, anxiety, depression, and life adjustments. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT), Motivational Interviewing, CBT for Eating Disorders, and trauma-informed practice. 

Throughout treatment I utilize different modalities and encourage clients to bring whatever they need support with to session, whether you just need to talk or need help searching for resources. I am here to support you on an individual level and help you live the life you want. 

What is an intern and how do they differ from licensed clinicians?

Interns and practicum students are completing their graduate degree in Psychology,  Social Work or Marriage and Family Therapy. They are not yet licensed and work under the supervision of our Clinical Director, their University Graduate Professor, as well as a post-doctoral graduate student.  Interns are required to complete a specific number of supervised 1:1 clinical hours and may be required to audio or video tape 3 sessions total per semester. The benefit of working with an intern is that they are in University Programs learning the latest counseling and treatment techniques. They are well supervised and they see clients on a very reduced fee schedule of $15-$50/session. 

I believe healing begins through connection and as your counselor I strive to create a space where you feel accepted, heard, and safe. Positive change is sustainable when it is personally meaningful, so we will work together to create achievable goals that align with your values. My approach focuses on helping you balance acceptance of where you are with intentional change to get where you want to be. Our work together will involve learning how to be more self-compassionate in difficult moments while developing skills to better manage those moments. My aim is to empower you to live a life that is meaningful and fulfilling to you, even when faced with challenges and hurt. I use a variety of modalities to ensure treatment best fits your unique needs. I recognize how hard vulnerability can be, and consider it a privilege to be trusted to walk alongside you and to hold space for your struggles. I would be honored to support you in discovering that you are capable of overcoming hardship!

Talking to people and helping them through challenging times in their lives has always been a passion of mine and working towards making it my career with this team is a dream come true. 

As a counselor, I focus on allowing the client to be able to drive the session and make decisions on what it is they want to get from counseling. My approach sees the client-counselor relationship as critical to the healing process and puts the counselor as a guide for the client on the route to their goals and self-actualization. Healing involves being able to participate in authentic connections with others and being able to work towards and actualize your goals in a safe and welcoming environment. I also look at how the many different aspects of a person’s life and environment affect their behavior and where change could be implemented.Working with me will be a non-judgmental experience where we will meet ourselves where we are and work together to get where we want to be.

I am a firm believer that mental health is overall health and want to work to ensure its more widespread acceptance and use. Taking the initiative to see a counselor is a major step towards your overall well-being and I am grateful to be able to help you on that journey. 

Hello! My name is Dessi Caldwell. I am a therapist intern here at Krippa Family Psychological & Wellness Services in Cornelius, NC. I have developed a passion in working with the youth demographic. Therapy is a process and it takes going backwards and navigating through the uncomfortable or unknown to be able to move forward. It’s important to collaborate with the whole family during treatment to figure out how to best support the client in need.