Hi! I'm Schlese!
Pronouns: She/Her
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”—Proverb
I believe therapy is a relationship that supports self-discovery. It’s a way of tuning in. Self-discovery matters because the problems we experience are often an invitation for personal growth. Growth is a process (and a solution) that takes time, but it can ultimately help you have a different conversation with life. That’s why I’m here: I’ll walk with you for part of that journey.
Why I'm a Social Worker
I’m a social worker because I believe the personal is political. "To build community requires…awareness of the work we must continually do to undermine all the socialization that leads us to behave in ways that
perpetuate domination.” —bell hooks, “Teaching Community”
​
More About Me
Therapy can be challenging and rewarding for the same reason: it’s a space
to discover that difficulty is a friend. All of my work as a therapist amounts to helping clients find their own lived answers that resolve that seeming paradox. Generally, my approach is grounded in the belief that each person has the capacity for growth, self-awareness, and authenticity when they are planted in the soil of therapeutic connection. So, to that end, I offer my clients non-judgment, empathy, curiosity, compassion, acceptance, and patience for them to work at their own pace.
I work with many types of clients—even clients who have heard their parents, family, or friends say at some point: “therapy isn’t what we do.” I received, for instance, the “therapy isn’t what we do” messaging from a Black, Southern, and Christian context. The world is a big place and there are many ways to be human! So, whatever your background or history might be, bring your whole self. There’s room.
When I’m not working as a therapist I like to read and sing. I also adore quiet and solitude; without them, it’s impossible for me to be fully human. My favorite shows to watch over (and over again) are Succession, Lovecraft Country, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Golden Girls, Lo Que La Vida Me Robó, and the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.​​
Specialties and Services
-
Individual Therapy for Adults 18+
-
Anxiety
-
Panic
-
Trauma
-
Grief
-
Depression
-
Life transitions
-
College Students (Traditional and Non-Traditional)
-
Stress Management
-
Mindfulness
-
Somatic Interventions
-
Chronic Pain/Illness
-
Spiritual and Religious Issues
-
BIPOC Sensitive
-
Therapy Stigma
-
Genograms
Treatment Style and Methods
-
Attachment-Based Therapy
-
Emotionally Focused
-
Existential Therapy
-
Humanistic Therapy
-
Internal Family Systems
-
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
-
Narrative Therapy
-
Somatic Therapy
Education and Credentials
Education
-
2022 George Mason University, Masters of Social Work
-
University of Virginia B.A. English
-
John Hopkins University, M.A. Writing
Credentials
-
Supervisee in Social Work 2022 under Kelly Cipera, LCSW