Summer Cartwright, MS, LPC, NCC

Counseling Summary

My formal education and clinical training has prepared me to counsel individual adolescents and adults, couples, families and groups in any community agency setting, including work with substance abuse and dual-diagnosis clients.

 

Clinical Summary

Completed a 60+ hour Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from a CACREP accredited program ranked #1 in Texas and #13 in the nation for counseling by U.S. News and World Report, as well as a clinical mental health practicum and internship resulting in 800 hours post-course work.

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I have served in various mental health professional positions including case management coordinator, clinical therapist, and Lead Clinical Therapist for an intensive A.C.T. Program in Detroit, MI.

 

Nature of Counseling

My approach to therapy is guided by Gestalt theory and practice. Within certain stages of treatment with specific populations I will incorporate Cognitive Behavioral approaches (addictions), Motivational Interviewing (short-term therapy), or come from a more Person-Centered approach (in the case of work with children or grief counseling) – as the situation and client needs warrant. 

 

In Gestalt therapy the therapist facilitates a person’s awareness of experience, and may suggest ways in which his or her client may deepen his or her awareness.  The ultimate aim of Gestalt therapy is to assist you in discovering your own natural ability to self-regulate and have successful and fulfilling contact with others, as well as excavating and investigating disowned aspects of yourself in order to become a more whole version of yourself.

 

The theory I work with includes techniques which incorporate awareness of and experimentation with bodily sensations, emotional responses, desires, and cognitive assumptions in order to discover your core needs and find new ways to meet those needs.  It is my philosophy as a counselor that accepting your life experiences as valid and helping you use them as tools for awareness is key to becoming a more balanced and healthier you, rather than suggesting changes to your behavior or decisions.