Esmé Blackburn

It takes a lot of courage to enter into therapy as it means acknowledging that something isn't working in your life. Everyone who comes into therapy is a unique individual whose problems are different eventhough they may fall under the same category,e.g."depressed." Sometimes people enter into therapy with specific problems, such as academic stress and college adjustment issues. while for others there is a need to understand old, negative patterns of behavior.
I draw upon different theories to guide treatment such as psychodynamic which emphasizes the impact of childhood family relationships. I also draw upon family systems theory as well as cognitive-behavioral theory which focuses on how distorted cognitions and types of behavior perpetuate problems such as depression and anxiety.
I began working in the field of mental health in 1987 after I received my masters degree in social work. I later decided to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology as it would provide me with additional academic and clinical training.