Imagine Counseling, LLC
Staff
Hi! My name is Maria del Carmen Mejia-Desatnik, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
I am originally from Mexico City, Mexico, where I attended the Universidad de las Americas to pursue a degree in Psychology. There, I was introduced to the Family Systems Theory, which had a major lifelong impact on my professional and personal development, emphasizing the fact that we are all connected with one another, and that no event ever occurs in isolation.
I moved to the United States and obtained a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas, in Lawrence. There, I was introduced to the Strengths Perspective, which again had major influence on my professional and personal development, as my training emphasized the fact that every individual has characteristics that make them special, and that a feature that could be seen as a limitation, can actually be the most valuable asset for the person, their family, or their community!
I cannot stress enough how my life experiences have impacted me as a person and as a professional. Having grown up in one environment, and later moving to a different one has made me appreciate the wealth and richness of different cultures, different places and different faces, and how our world is not limited or constricted, but instead, is enriched by diversity.
Since 1994 I have been in the outpatient mental health field, providing assistance and counseling to English and Spanish-speaking individuals, couples and families dealing with social, emotional and environmental problems.
As a Clinical Social Worker, I am trained to apply specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of individuals, couples, families and groups. I provide interventions focused on interpersonal interactions, intrapsychic dynamics, and life management issues to enhance the social, psychosocial and bio-psychosocial functioning of my clients and their families.
I have experience both with adult and children populations, and I have worked extensively with female adolescents who, at times, engage in risky behaviors that may have a negative -and permanent- impact on their lives. Throughout my career, I have frequently worked with body issues and self-esteem issues on women and young women.
In addition to the Family Systems Theory and the Strengths Perspective, my clinical interests include Communication issues, Grief and Loss, Life as a Cycle (a cycle which includes death as part of it), the Resiliency Theory -which relates to overcoming adversity and trauma- Parenting Skills Building, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and the practice of Therapy both as Art and Science. I believe in a Holistic approach to wellness and health, including mental health.
Consistent with my interests and values, I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
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