Bridget Richards,
LCSW
About:
Bridget is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Missouri and Iowa. She enjoys working with children (age 7-11), adolescents (age 12-18), and adults (age 18+). Bridget believes that each individual is unique and needs a place to feel safe and heard. Many children and teens can be labeled as “overreacting, being difficult or too sensitive”. Bridget is specialized to help those individuals learn to handle situations in a more productive manner. Does your teen have mood swings, or rational problems? Bridget has a passion to help them learn better coping methods rather than relying in attempts that produce difficulties. Bridget has experience and specializes in working with teens that have suicidal ideations and attempts, or non-suicidal self-harm behaviors.
Bridget has a passion to work with veterans that have served this country and those still serving their country. Bridget is a retired Military Veteran who understands and knows that to ask for help can be seen as weak and a source of shame. Bridget is here to help you through this stage of self-discipline and toughness. As a retired Veteran Bridget understands the difficulties with transitioning out of the routine and camaraderie experienced when serving in the Military. “I want to help you work through the self-reliance and personal responsibility you feel”. As a military spouse caring for not only the military member but the family can be a struggle. Bridget understands this struggle and wants to help you through this.
Education:
Bridget graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from Upper Iowa University. After completing her undergraduate degree, she earned her Master’s in Social Work from Walden University. Bridget then went on to become certified in DBT (Dialectic Behavior Therapy), that is designed to help you understand and accept those difficult powerful emotions, as well as to help those with suicidal and non-suicidal self-harm behaviors. Bridget is certified in Trauma-Focused Therapy as well as CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), both modalities help clients work through their traumas by changing thoughts that will help change how you feel. DBT is administered both individually and in group format. Both CPT and TF-CBT are both individual sessions.
Current Specialties/Interests:
Bridget’s greatest passion is to see clients grow, and seeing all the hard work they put into therapy. “I love to see the progress clients make by the end of sessions and how they are happier with their life”. Does your teen have a severe or chronic mental health conditions and you are at your last straw. DBT has been shown to be effect as a last resort treatment. With the use of DBT Bridget will help your teen learn to face situations rationally without reacting emotionally or withdrawing. DBT helps with emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effective skills. DBT was designed to help those with suicidal tendencies and self-harm learn to accept their emotions in a more productive manner. Bridget is here to support you, to listen to you and to let you know you are not alone.
Bridget has developed a support group called L.E.A.R.N, (Looking for signs, Empathize and Listen, Ask, Remove danger, Next step). This group is for parents and guardians of loved ones suffering from suicidal ideations and attempts, or non-suicidal self-harm behaviors. This group is a support group and uses education to help teach guardians the best practices for loved ones, while getting the support you need from others in this tough situation. Nothing can prepare us for the death of a loved one, with this group Bridget wants to educate and support you to learn how to help your loved one.
Meet Our Staff
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