Alexa Casale, APCC

Therapist

Hello, I am Alexa and I am a registered associate therapist. I received my masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco in 2020 and have been in the mental health field since 2016. I meet with teens and adults struggling with Depression, Anxiety, OCD, ADHD, PTSD, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, and more. I have extensive practice working with clients experiencing what boils down to the simple word of stress. Whether the stress seems to be coming from a new life change, a job, trouble juggling some difficult circumstances, family, a romantic relationship…I offer a supportive space for clients to process emotions, learn tools to regulate their nervous system, and notice real change. 

My belief is that we have innate value and strength to overcome the more challenging or lonely parts of life. I believe in every person’s capacity for genuine change and growth. I would be honored to offer you a safe and compassionate space to help you reflect and realize the supportive abilities of your own body and mind and to accompany you through the highs and lows of your life journey.

Nonjudgmental Empathetic Listening

Every single person needs help sometimes. My goal is to be there for you, as a human first, to help you carry whatever is causing suffering. My hope is that our work together in session will feel entirely different than a conversation you would have with say a peer, a friend, or a family member. I am here to absorb what you’re experiencing and maybe afraid to share with others due to judgement or shame. If you prefer to simply sit with someone in silence and simply “be”, I am happy to be that person for you. My job is to simply listen, be with you, and leave all and any biases at the front door. 

Experiential, Collaborative, and Curious 

Experiential therapy, in my case, means that I support clients in trying something new, perhaps a new way of thinking, regulating their nervous systems, or noticing a reaction to something I say– all in the therapy session itself. This way, we are initiating change in your whole mind-body system in real time. In session, this may look like bringing you back to the “here and now” and being curious about what you notice in your body or mind in any given moment throughout the session. I’ll invite you to cultivate that same curiosity about yourself. 

TRAUMA

Trauma has become somewhat of a buzzword lately. It seems that just about everyone is wondering “do I have trauma?” or “does that count as a trauma”? Sometimes the stigma of the word makes us dismiss the concept altogether. Trauma is simply when your nervous system becomes overwhelmed beyond its capacity, and from this perspective it is actually an experience of strength and resilience as your system does what is needed to protect itself and continue to thrive! 

We often adapt around traumatic experiences to survive however we might come to find these adaptive patterns causing problems in our day to day lives. Whether these patterns are apparent to us already or are affecting us in hidden ways, we can discover these together. This means really noticing what protective defenses are still present and how they are showing up in your body and mind.