Alaina Ewing MSW, LICSW

When working with generalized or social anxiety, I begin with psychoeducation about anxiety, then I teach calming techniques (like mindfulness or nervous system soothing exercises), and once we have a toolkit to best support you, then we would move into exposure therapies, CBT as indicated, use of fear ladders, and more.

I have worked with autistics with a wide range of needs, from little verbal communication to fluent speakers, those with high sensory needs and frequent stimming to those that mask, and I've done so in person, via telehealth, and in the home as needed. I can do provisional diagnosing, provide psychoeducation, assistance navigating resources, distress tolerance, regulation skills, and more.

I have extensive knowledge of trauma responses, the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system/amygdala activation, calming triggers and returning to baseline, and distress tolerance. I use mindfulness, somatic approaches, CBT, DBT, and fear ladders when working with active trauma as well as post-trauma.

As a social worker, this is the go-to approach I have learned and used throughout. Using person-centered approaches allows me to tailor various methodologies to best fit the individual. It also allows me to switch up my approach and use combined modalities that will be most beneficial for the individual.

Somatic therapy is quite useful when working with trauma that stores in the body. Working with our thoughts and beliefs alone is only one aspect of healing from trauma. I have participated in several trauma first aid trainings from notable trauma experts like Peter A. Levine as well as training courses on the biology of trauma. Somatic approaches allow for the body to release stored trauma through movement like dance, tapping, trauma-sensitive yoga, and more.

While this approach is widely used for working with trauma, I also find it helpful with ADHD clients to assist them with better understanding impulsive behaviors. Working with our parts allows us to separate an action, like an addiction, from who we are at our core. When we understand that we are not our part, that allows us to be curious about the parts of ourselves that hold our struggles and painful experiences, which then allows self-compassion.