Latoya Spady

You don't need to know exactly what's wrong before reaching out. Most people I work with start with a sense that something is off, or that they've been managing on their own for too long. That's enough to begin. I work with adults and adolescents facing trauma, depression, and substance use, which are often more connected than they look from the outside. Figuring out how they fit together is part of our work. I'm patient and fairly direct, and I keep a sense of humor in the room. Clients often tell me they don't feel rushed or judged with me, and that matters more to the work than any single technique.

You set the direction and the pace. I bring the structure, and I'll share what I'm noticing and why we're focusing on it, so the work never feels like a mystery. Together, we'll look at the patterns underneath what's happening now, including ones that started in your family long before you had a say in them. Then we'll work on doing something different, in steps that feel manageable. For the practical side, I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and trauma-focused CBT. When you're weighing a change you haven't committed to yet, I use motivational interviewing. When the goal is getting through the week, we'll lean on mindfulness. I won't push you toward change you haven't decided you want, and I'll stay consistent while you decide.

Our first session is mostly about whether this feels like a good fit for you. I'll ask what brought you in and what you're hoping will change, and you can share in whatever order makes sense. You don't have to go deep on day one. Before we finish, we'll talk through what working together would look like, including how often we'd meet and what we'd focus on first, so you leave with a clear picture of next steps. As we continue, you can expect to understand what we're working on and why, and to have manageable steps for doing something different. If it turns out I'm not the right fit, I'd rather help you sort that out early than leave you wondering.