Joey Salvatore operates from an ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) orientation which emphasizes: identifying values that bring meaning to a client’s life, examining moments of avoidance, and increasing awareness to the present moment, among other components. Joey helps clients establish therapeutic goals and objectives and collaborates pathways of action that are uniquely tailored to them.
Joey has experience working with a variety of client demographics and diagnoses, including those dealing with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, interpersonal stressors, and transition of life issues. Joey has experience working with clients from diverse backgrounds and clients age 18-88, and is competent in treating clients identifying as LGBTQIA+. More recently, Joey has been exploring mindfulness through cooking and the therapeutic benefits of cooking as a coping skill both for himself and with his clients. Joey is comfortable doing individual counseling sessions and is excited to collaborate with you to help you meet your treatment goals!
From Joey:
I think currently more than ever, there is a growing need to enhance appreciation and kindness in our daily lives. We are inundated with information from so many sources, and choosing a counselor can seem like yet another daunting task amidst all the decisions to make. Firstly, it is a big step that you are taking to find a therapist and be willing to open yourself up to this work, so let’s take a moment to highlight that strength! Even if we are meeting virtually, I want to provide a space that feels like a safe space, a refuge, and a meeting place of connection and understanding.
My work with clients emphasizes mindfulness to highlight those moments of joy and satisfaction that we have in our lives, and sometimes on the other hand to better understand how our minds and bodies react and respond to negative events and pain. When you connect with your values and make moves towards what is meaningful, you will be able to better tolerate the discomfort of pain and loss when it inevitably arises, and better able to embrace the comfort of positivity when it is present. For clients who have been feeling stuck, sometimes determining direction can be life-changing.
I have a few sayings that my clients come to learn when working with me. One being: “There are multiple ways to the same goal”. Of course, in my work, we can talk about events in order to process, and that can be one way to get to a goal. However, I am also open to what will work for you. Maybe by writing, visualization or meditation, taking a walk and journaling, role playing, drawing, cooking or other ways, I want you to feel free to explore what processes help create success for you. You are the driver in your life, and I am a passenger helping to determine direction. I am open to many different tools to enhance our work and encourage that openness and curiosity from my clients. I will work hard for you, understanding that therapy is inherently hard work for my clients as well. Let’s put our sights towards the future and determine which outcomes I can support you in. You are taking the time to find a therapist, maybe I am just the one you are looking for.