Veronyca Norcia

I’ve been practicing as a clinician since January of 2021, when I began as a trainee. I hold a dual Bachelor’s in Psychology and Photography and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. I am certified in CPR/First
Aid, a Mandated Reporter, and Positive Behavioral Training. I have spent most of my career so far working with neurodivergent children and their families, in a classroom setting, social skills groups, and in play therapy. My personality can be described as warm, safe, and inviting, and I work to create a similar space for my clients. Most of my experience has been in treating neurodivergent children, specifically autistic or ADHD kids. With this population, I have worked with anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, emotionally appropriate self-expression skills, social skills, Pervasive Drive for Autonomy (PDA), attention issues, tool building, and much more. My approach to treating these issues is through approaching them with a sense of wondering and an openness to understanding. Some methods that I’ve used include narration about what I believe is going on with the client, writing down their words to show the power and importance they hold and to help them organize their
thoughts, role playing, and gently challenging negative or maladaptive thoughts.
 

A recurring theme that I’ve noticed many times, is that every single client has a child in them that wants to be heard and supported. When you’re able to access that, you’re able to get more deeply into the root of the struggle and better understand how to support the client in growing and achieving their goals. A key component of the therapeutic alliance is holding the space for the client to bring what they need to to the space, knowing that they are safe and accepted unconditionally in that moment to be their authentic selves in order to bring out the change they’re wanting to see. The most insightful thing that I’ve learned as a mental health professional is that in every person, there’s a child that wants to be heard and protected. When you begin to see that in others, it begins to become more clear who the child in you is and what you might need in your life to thrive. My dreams in life have always been geared towards helping, more specifically helping people. I love to learn how people view and interact with the world around them, and then support them in understanding how that might impact them while learning tools to thrive. Being able to create a safe space for people to be their authentic selves to heal and grow is my favorite part of being a mental
health professional.