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In-Office to Telehealth: Ways to Simplify the Therapeutic Shift

You've worked too hard to let covid-19 get in the way of your therapeutic journey! Psychotherapist Lillian Dugan, LMSW shares some tips to support our clients during this transition from in-office to telehealth sessions.
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photo 1545239351 c77e88f1c3c8I think we can all be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that we were looking forward to more from 2020. The Coronavirus has impacted various aspects of our lives, our physical and mental health, our families, our children, our education, our vacation and leisure time, and our freedom. I never knew I could appreciate the luxury of stopping at the grocery store on the way home from a long day at work to grab baking supplies. The things we love, our ability to be with our friends and family, get lunch on a beautiful day, head to the mall for a new outfit, or celebrations of birthdays, love, and graduations, have all halted. 

We want you to keep your weekly appointments. We want you to continue to work with your therapist on your goals and mental health. We want this because we know you have been working so hard and a pandemic should not take away from your resilience. However, we know how hard this time is. We know the idea of getting on your computer for 45 minutes, finding privacy in your home (which I am sure is filled with people working from home and kids home from school), and prioritizing yourself during this time is difficult. And for those who are at the beginning process of your therapeutic journey, we know it took courage to reach out and that should not be minimized.

As clinicians at Nourish Your Mind, we want this process to be as smooth and comfortable as it is to walk into our office every week. Here are some tips we have found helpful for ourselves, and tips our clients have taught us in the past few weeks:

  • Test out the video sessions before your appointment time to make sure everything is working, we can help you troubleshoot, if needed. 
  • Find a comfortable, safe space in your home for your sessions
  • If privacy is an issue, do sessions from your car in your driveway. If it is nice, sitting outside is another option!
  • Address your concerns with your clinician. We know it is not the same and we are just as disappointed as you are that we are not seeing you face to face. Let’s talk about it.
  • This is a great time to practice setting boundaries with the people you live with. Make sure they know that these 45 minutes are important for you and your mental health.

Similar to your previous sessions, you will walk into the office (sign on your computer), meet with your therapist, and begin sessions. It may feel awkward at first, but after running online sessions for two weeks now, I can assure you it begins to feel more normal. If it does not, or you are having questions and concerns, please let us know. We will do our best to keep you coming through our hypothetical doors every week. We want you to keep showing up, even when it seems impossible. Thank YOU for your continued support, it is an honor to be there with you every step of the way through these uncertain and scary times.

Lillian Dugan, LMSW

Looking to pick your weekly sessions back up, or get started in your therapeutic journey? We’re here for you! NourishYourMind.com/Appointment or call/text (845) 547-0479.

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BIO

Cameryn (Cam) received her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marist College. Prior to joining Nourish Your Mind, she worked in private practice, primarily serving children, teens, and their families. During this time, she developed a passion for helping clients navigate their unique challenges through the transformative power of play and expressive arts therapy. Cam believes that every individual deserves a safe, nurturing space where they can authentically express themselves. She is dedicated to empowering her clients by identifying and utilizing their inherent strengths to help them achieve their personal goals.

In her therapeutic approach, Cam integrates a holistic wellness model with strengths- and mindfulness-based methods. She employs a variety of evidence-based techniques, including DBT and Nondirective Play Therapy, and she recognizes the importance of tailoring interventions to meet the specific needs of each individual and family.

When she’s not in the office, Cam enjoys reading, traveling, weight-lifting, and immersing herself in music and films. She also values spending quality time with friends, family, and her cats.

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor
  • Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling, Marist College
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, SUNY Geneseo
  • Member of the American Counseling Association (ACA)
  • Middletown Office
BIO

Brianna earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Siena College and her Master of Social Work degree from Adelphi University. Throughout her education and early career, she worked with at-risk adolescents experiencing trauma and maladaptive coping as both a clinician and crisis interventionist. She later spent several years in emergency services, specializing in trauma-informed care for adolescents and adults. Brianna has extensive experience working with individuals struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, self-esteem, and relationship challenges.

Brianna takes a strength-based, integrative approach to therapy, empowering clients to discover their own path toward healing and self-acceptance. She believes that while we cannot change the past, we can change our relationship with it. She is passionate about helping clients develop effective coping skills, reconnect with their inner resilience, and build lives that extend beyond surviving trauma.

Brianna believes healing is not only a journey of the mind, but a whole-body experience. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) and thoughtfully incorporates mind-body practices into therapy to support nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and emotional awareness. She is also certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), an evidence-based trauma treatment that helps clients process distressing experiences, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), offering a holistic approach for individuals seeking deeper healing from trauma, depression, anxiety, and other emotional challenges. By integrating traditional psychotherapy with somatic approaches and specialized trauma treatments, Brianna helps clients create lasting, meaningful change.

Above all, Brianna is dedicated to creating a safe, compassionate, and authentic therapeutic environment where clients feel seen, supported, and empowered to reconnect with their truest selves.

Brianna resides in Orange County with her two rescue huskies. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, spending time in nature, painting, practicing yoga, and cooking while surrounded by music, friends, and family.

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of New York
  • Master’s of Social Work, Adelphi University
  • Master’s of Social Work, Adelphi University RYT-200
  • Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Certified, Journey Clinical
  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy Trained, Rosenzweig Center for Rapid Recovery
  • Middletown Office
BIO

Ashley received her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from SUNY New Paltz. While attending her graduate program, Ashley worked as a supervisor at a Crisis Intervention Program and interned at an Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program, gaining valuable skills in crisis management and group therapy. Before joining Nourish Counseling, she spent several years working in a long-term outpatient care clinic specializing in children, adolescents and their families. Ashley has expertise in partnering with those suffering from depression, anxiety, trauma, family conflict, and personality disorders.

Ashley believes that each client is their own expert. She provides an integrative approach that focuses on both the thoughts and behaviors her clients may be struggling with in order to help them find balance and build resiliency. She works with clients in a person-centered and skill building approach to help determine and reach their own individual goals. Following a Dialectical Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach, she encourages and supports clients to reach their full potential.

Ashley lives in Middletown, NY with her husband and a very loved dog. She enjoys family time, cooking, and trying new things whenever possible.

  • American Counseling Association
  • Middletown Office
BIO

Amanda is a Certified Clinicial Trauma Professional with a deep commitment to guiding clients through their healing and discovery. She believes that you are the expert of your own life, and she is dedicated to building a safe, collaborative space where you feel both validated and motivated for change. 

Amanda specializes in treating those with Complex Trauma, Grief and Loss, Anxiety and Depression, Chronic Illness, Infertility, Infant/Pregnancy Loss, Women’s Health and Neurodivergent Disorders. She works with individuals aged 5 and up. 

Amanda’s unique, holistic approach to psychothreapy is rooted in evidence-based practices and tailored to fit your specific clinical needs. She seamlessly integrates practices like mindfulness and meditation with powerful theraputic modalities, including Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Internal Family Systems Therapy. 

After gaining experience in Baltimore – including intensive work in Residential Foster Care and as a Medical Social Worker – Amanda has been settled back in her home, the Hudson Valley. She enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her husband and two young daughters. She has journeyed with cleints for nearly 5 years at Nourish and is now ready to partner with you!

  • Cornwall Office
  • Middletown Office