Mark Dowds

I completed my Masters in Social Work at Boston University. Since then I have worked at a day treatment center for the chronically mentally ill in Boston, a program for adolescent offenders at the Roxbury District Court. From there I have worked at the Dimock Center and then The Home for Little Wanderers, where I did school based and clinic based outpatient therapy, home visits and sessions in programs where the client attended. Issues addressed included depression, anxiety, ADHD, substance abuse, autism, academic failure, acculturation and language stressors, transgender issues, suicidality, social media addiction. I have worked with clients from the age of 6 to 70 using both English and Spanish and representing multiple countries and ethnicities, including: Latinos, African Americans, Anglo Americans, Brazilians, Cape Verdeans, Africans, Vietnamese.

My primary objective in therapy is to develop a trusting relationship, even during the assessment stage. To me it is important to connect with the client personally and understand their particular struggles in their terms and from their cultural viewpoint. Once the problems become in focus we would work to develop alternative ways to understand their problems and more effective strategies to resolve them. As they begin to work on resolving them, it is important to provide consistent support and encouragement and increase self confidence

During the first session, it is important for clients to understand the importance of trust and the limits of confidentiality. I would also explain the options of complaining about or questioning the direction of their therapy. We would need to review that responsibilities of the client. But with all the administrative details it is equally important to share a welcoming and friendly approach and a genuine interest in understanding what are the outstanding issue the client is dealing with.