How to Begin the Road to Recovery with Lei Raiza Zervoulakos, APCC
How to Begin the Road to Recovery with Lei Raiza Zervoulakos, APCC
Who is Lei and what are some of her specialties?
Lei is an associate professional clinical counselor who is also a registered substance abuse counselor and has been working in the mental health field for 5 years. She is also bilingual and can speak Tagalog fluently! Lei offers a safe space to process all things human. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology and offers support with trauma, grief, PTSD, interpersonal relationship issues, and more. She also specializes in substance use and abuse, anxiety & depression, and those with a dual diagnosis.
What does it feel like to be in the therapy space with Lei?
Lei strives to make the therapeutic space safe, comfortable, and welcoming. She is admired for empowering her clients and giving them the confidence they need to take control of their life. Lei is big on exploring thoughts and feelings- believing that feelings aren't good or bad until we put judgment on them. She also encourages clients on their personal journeys by taking a self-compassionate, strengths based approach to validating their experiences and feelings.
How does Lei work with those struggling with substance use/abuse?
Recovery is not easy. To best work with individuals struggling with substance abuse, Lei offers genuine empathy and an open space to divulge into healing. She attempts to meet clients where they are at to create a trusting therapeutic relationship. Recovery plans can be difficult to assess and/or create, but Lei is able to work collaboratively with clients to best establish next steps. She used traditional abstinence and self empowering, non 12 step approaches to working through the recovery process. During this journey, feelings of shame or embarrassment may arise due to the stigma that is associated with substance use/abuse. However, Lei reminds clients that the therapeutic space is safe and she is not there to judge. She isn’t there to tell individuals what not to do, but rather, she aims to better understand why the use/abuse occurs. Lei also helps individuals find their triggers and develop coping skills so that clients are able to effectively reduce their use until they are ready to stop completely.
What techniques does Lei use in her sessions?
Lei doesn’t have just one technique that she uses, as she believes there is not a one size fits all approach. However, some of the techniques she likes to utilize in sessions are motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, the community resiliency model and compassionate challenging. When appropriate, she may even include journaling assignments, worksheets, and role playing. Lei aims to find an approach that works best for the client, knowing that different client’s have different needs.
growgood psychology has a team of therapists that can support you on your journey to healing.
Some therapists, such as Lei, have additional specialties that add to their expansive knowledge and practice. We aim to provide a safe, comfortable place for you to work on overcoming some of the challenges that may be in the way of your healing.
In therapy, you can better understand your behaviors and feelings, create a safe bond, and work on moving forward with your life.
Connect with us today to embrace the road to healing and recovery!