Bailey Shertzinger
Entering adulthood is hard…ask anyone! This is a time where you are expected to “figure out your life,” then make a huge decision about what to do next.
Let's collaborate on tools to support your therapy goals, while also looking to understand the deeper -- perhaps unconscious -- factors impacting your life.
I work primarily with teenagers in high school, college students, young adults who have recently graduated, emerging adults transitioning into the next stage of their lives, and parents who want to help their child navigate big changes. I specialize in supporting clients who are: dealing with perfectionism, experiencing anxiety, combatting depression, looking for College and/or Career Guidance, navigating transitions, and looking for support to manage ADHD symptoms. As a former teacher and school counselor, I learned how to help students and parents navigate post-high school transitions, including assisting with college applications. I also work with adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Navigating a life transition, supporting a child, not doing well in school, or connecting with your deeper purpose is challenging. Taking the next step can be hard, especially if you are unsure about what you want to do or who you want to be. If you are feeling paralyzed, unmotivated, or confused about how to move forward, I can help.
First session
Starting therapy is brave. You are allowing yourself to be vulnerable with a stranger. You are taking a step toward making a change in your life. I am honored whenever someone trusts me to help guide them through this process. During a first session, we are going to spend time getting to know each other. I might talk a bit more than usual, asking questions about your personal goals, challenges, family, social supports, etc. I'll spend some time talking about how I practice therapy, and we will begin the long process of building trust. I know this does not happen overnight, and I will follow your lead when it comes to how much you are ready to share with me.
Strengths
If you are in therapy, you are probably looking for something in your life to change. I will help you take practical steps toward that change, while also working with you to understand why you have certain thoughts and feelings. My approach is a unique combination of solutions-oriented and psychodynamic theories. This means we will spend sessions together collaborating on tools to support your therapy goals, while also looking to understand the deeper -- perhaps unconscious -- factors impacting your life. Most importantly, I want therapy to work for you. I will seek your feedback on different strategies and modalities; what resonates with one person is not the same for another. I will tailor our sessions to meet your needs, and I do not shy away from different therapeutic modalities. If you need support with organizing your school work, we can talk about brief-solutions-oriented therapy; if you are feeling lost understanding your purpose in life, we can discuss Acceptance and Commitment therapy; if you are feeling activated by your teenager's emotional responses, we can dive deeper into Internal Family Systems; if you're having evocative dreams, we can discuss Jungian therapy. Therapy should be as unique as you are.
Ideal clients
I specialize in helping people navigate transitions. This could be a teenager adjusting to life in high school, an 18-year-old applying to colleges, a recent graduate trying to figure out their next step, a college student feeling lost at a large school, a college graduate trying to find their purpose in life, a parent dealing with the large emotions of a teenager, or an adult who is feeling a growing discontentment with their life, despite their accomplishments. There are very few supports in this modern age to help people move from one stage of life to another, and there can be pressure to look, act, or feel a certain way. I work with people who are tired of pretending they can do it all alone; we all need support sometimes, and I would love to be a person who can support you.
Origin story
I have always been curious about the complex nature of the human psyche. From a young age, I was interested in learning more about how humans learn, process, feel, and think. As a teenager, I felt lost trying to navigate my own feelings, but I was lucky enough to have adults who took my emotions, thoughts, and dreams seriously. I've always wanted to be that person for others during a time of great transition! As a teacher and school counselor, I loved supporting my students with managing mental health symptoms, while also helping them build practical tools to assist with school-related stressors. I was able to continue this support through my students' post high school endeavors, and love providing mental health support and college/career guidance for those who have recently graduated. I also found it gratifying to help parents navigate the unique challenges associated with raising teenagers. All of these experiences led me to opening my own counseling practice. I want to be a person who can offer perspective on the span of human development, while also understanding the real pressures people face in this era.
Ongoing work together
As we build trust together, we will work on articulating and creating a path toward your therapy goals. Each person will have unique goals with unique obstacles to overcome. Together, we will identify those obstacles, build on your strengths, and start to slowly work toward accomplishing your goals. Your personal goals will stay top of mind during our sessions, and we will continuously check in our your progress toward those goals. For example, if your goal is to lower your anxiety, we could use a short measurement tool every few weeks to track your anxiety symptoms; or, if your goal is to connect with your deeper purpose in life, we will create a scaffolded plan where we uncover your strengths, interests, and desires, then take tangible steps to create a life you love. While everyone is different, I will always check in with you to ensure you are taking steps down your individual path.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT is great at helping us connect our values to our actions. By defining our values, we can make decisions from a place of strength, instead of fear. This method also allows us to accept large emotions without identifying with them, creating mental flexibility.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS allows us to understand that some unconscious behaviors come from different parts of our self that we don't pay attention to. When we approach something from an IFS lens, we can understand (without judgement) that actions, thoughts, or feelings associated with one part of itself does not have to control our entire being.
Narrative
Narrative therapy allows for us to looks at events in our life and make meaning from them. Like writing a book, we can see a challenge as an important part of our story. I find this method helps people take back the power from traumatic events.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
Solution Focused is something I have used with students time and time again. This is modality allows for us to create actionable steps toward change.
Psychodynamic
The unconscious is a powerful force that must be contended with for deep, meaningful change. We all have unconscious coping strategies that interfere with our life's work, and bringing attention to those strategies helps us understand our deeper feeings.
Location
Virtual sessions