Dr. Jackie Szarka

Thank you for viewing my profile. As a Clinical Psychologist, I am a generalist who works with a range of adult clients and presenting problems. My broad goal is to help clients understand how their lived experience impacts their relationships and overall functioning and to make changes that can improve their overall health and life satisfaction. Most of my experience has been with survivors of trauma and their significant others, including military Veterans and spouses, those struggling with injuries or accidents, persons facing significant life transitions, clients suffering with grief and loss, and survivors of childhood trauma, domestic violence or sexual assault.

My theoretical orientation as a psychologist is based in humanistic, existential-phenomenological traditions that I ground in the following beliefs. I believe that people can be incredibly resilient and they can have both the power and the will to change their situation and become healthier. Therefore, I approach therapy with positivity and hope. I believe that the presenting problem that brings someone to therapy is usually a symptom of a much more complex life struggle. Therefore, while it is important to promptly tackle current symptoms, I do believe that if the door is not opened wider to see what else lies within, we may never address the deeper issues that can continue to show up in our everyday lives. I believe that humans are social beings. We exist in relationship with others, even if we have become isolated, and the presenting problem often represents a rift in our social experience. Therefore, I trust that the process of psychotherapy and the therapeutic relationship can become a corrective part of that world.

Outside of my work as a psychologist, I am a lavender farmer and I find peace in my relationship with nature and renewal through my activities nurturing the farm.

I approach therapy through an interpersonal, client-centered perspective wherein both you and I are active participants. As client, you are the expert in your own experience and as psychologist I am the expert in theory and practice. We work together to understand what brings you to therapy, formulate diagnoses and treatment plans, and reach your immediate and longer term goals. I tailor therapy to each unique client, grounding our work in a strong therapeutic alliance and utilizing concepts and tools from many treatment methods.

Our first contact will be a brief phone call to discuss your needs and my experience. If we both agree that we are a good fit to work together, we will schedule our first session and Headway will email you forms that you must complete before that appointment. Our first session will be your "Intake Session" where we will discuss the primary reasons that bring you to therapy now, review your history and complete needed paperwork, formulate diagnoses, and identify your goals for therapy. Through this intake process we will develop the basis for a strong therapeutic relationship, satisfy documentation requirements, and plan our work together.