Counseling Services
Picture your emotions as a big, expansive lake inside you, swirling with happiness, sadness, anger, and love. Think of this lake as being alive, filled to the brim with all your different feelings. Even though it’s full, it's perfectly balanced, showing off how complex and rich your inner life is.
Now, imagine something called The Spillway—this is your helper for dealing with all those emotions. See The Spillway as a good friend, there to make sure your emotional lake doesn’t overflow and stays under control. It's like having a personal system to help you handle, understand, and direct your feelings in a positive way, keeping everything in balance.
When we bring The Spillway into our lives, we make sure our emotions flow just right, giving us the power to share how we feel without getting overwhelmed. This keeps us feeling peaceful inside and helps us connect better with others and the world, turning our emotional lake into a source of power and steadiness.
Overview
I'm here to focus on your life and how it fits into the bigger picture of society and its changes. My goal is to make sure we understand what makes you unique and help you connect with the broader shifts happening around us. We'll take a closer look at your experiences and see how they intersect with the larger societal trends.
Our exploration will delve into how societal influences affect your daily lives and relationships. This journey is about your personal development and enhancing how you interact with others in an environment that's supportive and deeply understanding. We aim to discover how external societal factors affect your emotions and how you connect with people, providing a safe and comfortable space for these discoveries.
Talking about significant societal issues will be critical, but we'll approach these topics in a way centered around you. We want to ensure that these discussions contribute to your well-being and the community's well-being, making complex conversations more relatable and centered on how these matters affect your life and those close to you.
Your comfort and growth are my top priorities. We'll tailor our discussions to match your comfort level, enhancing your sense of belonging and overall happiness. By personalizing our interactions, we guide this process with your goals and boundaries in mind.
My approach is designed to engage with crucial topics in a supportive, judgment-free space, offering various ways to participate based on your readiness. Whether through one-on-one or group discussions, face-to-face or digital meetings, this flexibility ensures that we align with your preferences and comfort level, keeping the focus firmly on your life and how it meshes with these broader themes.
About Me
Hello! My name is Loran; I’m a Licensed Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. My passion for helping people led me to Temple University, where I graduated magna cum laude from the School of Social Work, and the University of Pennsylvania, where I earned a Master of Social Work, Master of Science in Social Policy, and Master in Law. Throughout my studies, I learned the science and evidence-based practices on how to support others effectively, understand community dynamics, and grasp the significant impact of public policy and laws on our lives.
Since 2012, I've dedicated myself to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ youth in the Mid-Atlantic region. This deep commitment, combined with my educational background, sparked the creation of The Spillway in 2021. Through my direct service work and education, I realized that discussions about fairness and inclusion sometimes may not fully resonate with or include the perspectives of individuals who are White, straight, and cisgender. It's my mission to establish a space where everyone feels seen and valued, including you.
Our counseling sessions will offer a supportive space to explore and address common challenges, such as feeling misunderstood in discussions about identity, navigating the complexities of privilege, and finding effective ways to contribute to meaningful change, all within a community of understanding and growth.
If any of this speaks to you, or you're simply curious and have questions, I encourage you to reach out.
My Approach
Empathy in Action: Bridging Personal Growth and Social Connectedness
My practice integrates a compassionate understanding of individual experiences with a commitment to addressing broader social injustices, offering holistic support that empowers resilience and champions societal change, especially in navigating the complexities of race, gender, and sexuality. This approach ensures personalized care and fosters meaningful progress both personally and within our community.
Social Work
I believe in understanding each individual within their unique context and recognizing the connection between personal challenges and broader social issues. This holistic view helps me effectively address the root causes of problems.
Empowering my clients is not just a part of my work; it is the heart of it. I focus on their strengths and potential for active involvement in their recovery, which builds autonomy and resilience. I deeply respect and value each client, recognizing their unique journey and the courage it takes to seek help.
My commitment to social justice is not just a personal belief but a driving force in my work. It involves improving my clients' well-being and challenging societal factors like prejudice and poverty that affect them. I aim for changes that reach beyond individual therapy, envisioning a society where everyone has equal opportunities for a fulfilling life.
Social work principles guide me to treat every person with respect, value human relationships, and prioritize service to others. These ethical standards shape my practice, ensuring I serve my clients with integrity and respect.
Collaboration with professionals from different fields is crucial to providing comprehensive care. This interdisciplinary approach enhances the support and resources available to my clients.
My background in social work has equipped me with diverse skills, making me flexible and adaptable to meet my clients' evolving needs. This adaptability results in personalized and effective care.
Race, Gender, & Sexuality
Often, people come to me to talk and troubleshoot specific problems they are experiencing in relationship to their being White, straight, or cisgender:
Feeling Shame - When conversations about oppression and privilege come up, it's common to feel shame or guilt, especially regarding benefits received due to being White, straight, or cisgender.
Feeling Isolated or Alone - It's easy to feel disconnected or like you're the only one experiencing these emotions, especially when trying to fit into discussions about diversity and inclusion.
Feeling Misunderstood - During discussions on sensitive topics like racism, homophobia, or transphobia, feeling defensive or misunderstood is a common challenge.
Worry Over Saying the Wrong Thing - The fear of accidentally saying something offensive and being labeled as prejudiced is a significant concern for many.
Struggling with How to Support Marginalized Communities - Many people are confused about how to be supportive without overstepping boundaries or overshadowing marginalized voices.
Overwhelmed by Social Justice - The pressure to constantly educate oneself on social justice issues can be overwhelming, leading to burnout.
Wishing for Normalcy - There's often a desire to return to what was considered "normal" before these complex issues were confronted.
Navigating Conversations Carefully - You may feel like you have to walk on eggshells in discussions about identity and privilege to avoid conflict or misunderstanding.
Reconciling Beliefs with Societal Norms - It can be challenging to align personal beliefs with societal expectations or understand where one fits in the larger conversation.
Making Meaningful Change - Enacting real, impactful change within one’s community without perpetuating stereotypes or biases.
Some people feel many of these things, while others may only resonate with parts of this list.
Counseling & Consultation Services
Counseling
I provide holistic support to individuals facing life's challenges, aiming to foster significant and positive changes through our conversations. Utilizing a blend of social resources, an understanding of human personality, and various therapeutic techniques, my goal is to guide clients toward personal growth and improved well-being.
Our collaboration begins with a 30-minute consultation to explore compatibility and outline a personalized action plan. This initial meeting sets the stage for our tailored sessions, marking the start of a collaborative and transformative journey. All sessions are currently virtual.
My counseling services are designed to encourage personal development and healthier relationships, distinct from clinical psychotherapy. Unlike psychotherapists or clinical social workers, I do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions but focus on therapeutic support and personal empowerment.
Consultation
With a strong foundation in supporting social service agencies, schools, and community centers in The Spillway, I am uniquely equipped to offer services tailored for those looking to make a real difference:
Facilitating Meaningful Group Conversations: Engage your team, group, or staff in impactful discussions.
Conflict Resolution and Restorative Practices: Navigate disputes with a focus on healing and understanding.
Consulting for Clinicians: Enhance your clinical practice with insights into community dynamics.
Effective Training and Workshops: Equip yourself or your organization with the tools for change.
My skills stem not only from experience but also from a genuine understanding of the complexities within diverse settings. I ensure you receive counseling and consultation services enriched with deep insight and practical approaches. If you want to enhance your professional capabilities or enrich your organization’s impact, you’ve found the right partner.
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Rates
Regardless of the service you opt for, whether it's 1-on-1 sessions, group meetings, or workshops, our collaboration is always founded on the health of our relationship, trust, and rapport. To ensure a strong start, every service kicks off with a complimentary 30-minute consultation. This initial meeting is a golden opportunity for me to hear your goals and strategize how I can best assist you in achieving them. All meetings and sessions are currently virtual.
My standard fee for services is $170 per session. However, I understand that everyone's financial situation is unique. Depending on my current client load, I have limited appointments available on a sliding scale starting at $130. This flexibility is my way of ensuring that my services are accessible to as many individuals as possible. Please note that since my services do not qualify as clinical psychotherapy, my services cannot be billed or reimbursed by insurance companies as an in or out-of-network mental health expenses.
Contact
What You'd Like to Discuss: Please share a brief description of what you're seeking from my services, including any specific challenges you're facing or goals you hope to achieve. This enables me to better prepare for our initial conversation.
Your Availability: Inform me of your general availability for appointments. This information greatly assists in organizing our sessions efficiently.
Preferred Method of Communication: Indicate whether you favor email, phone calls, video-conferencing, or another communication method for our discussions.
Past Counseling or Consultation Experience: Kindly share any previous experiences you have had with counseling or consultation. Understanding your history helps me tailor my services to better meet your needs.
Holistic Support for Life's Challenges
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Empowerment and Support
I'm here to empower and support you throughout your journey. We'll tackle life's challenges, drawing on your strengths to foster resilience and encourage growth in each of your goals. My work is to help you feel more confident and capable of facing whatever comes your way.
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Collaborative Goal Setting and Personalized Strategies
Working together, we'll establish meaningful goals and personalize strategies that resonate with you. As a licensed social worker, I use a variety of therapeutic techniques within my scope to facilitate personal development and improve coping strategies. Our collaboration is critical to creating a path that reflects your aspirations and needs.
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Non-Clinical Approach Based on Social Work Principles
My services are deeply rooted in social work principles and focus on holistic, non-clinical support. I offer comprehensive assistance through counseling, advocacy, and therapeutic approaches to enhance your emotional and social well-being. I do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions.