Rachel Bradley Williams

I am a Licensed Clinical Social worker and Registered Play Therapy-Supervisor with over 20 years experience working with children, adolescents, adults and families. I practice from a strengths-based perspective with the goal of marshaling the inner resources of each client. I believe that within every person lies a desire for growth, connection and peace. Each new developmental phase can be challenging. As a mental health professional, I use evidence-based treatment interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy to teach new skills and strategies for managing emotions, coping with frustration and connecting in more positive ways with peers and family members or for younger clients, child-centered play therapy. Depending on the needs of the client, I also practice from an insight oriented, humanistic perspective, understanding that sometimes a person needs a safe, non judgmental place to talk about fears, concerns and dreams. This can be especially true for adolescents and young adults who are attempting to figure out who they are and what direction they want their life to take. For all clients, I believe it is critical to look at the whole person and consider the mind-body connection. This can include examining sleep, diet and exercise habits in conjunction with mindfulness practices. I have advanced clinical training from the Yale University School of Medicine-Child Study Center and have taught at Howard University, in the School of Social Work and Catholic University, NCSSS (MSW program) as adjunct faculty for a combined 15+ years. I also have extensive experience in school and mental health settings.