Peggy Lingard

Hello everyone, I previously offered weekly DBT groups as well as managing and coaching teams of therapists before I began working with PATH. I am glad to give my full attention to your care each session. I can bring any skills that are helpful to your goals and offer you my strong collaboration experience. I believe in supporting your strengths, and I invite you to plan treatment with me, keeping your goals at the center. Finally, I committed to practicing what I preach, living my life mindfully. This helps me remain grateful and accept feedback with humor.

My approach

My primary specialties include: - Increasing skills that will improve your life. - CBT, Exposure, and Solution Focus treatment for depression and anxiety.   - Training in the Gottman method for improving couples' relationships.   - ACT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is very useful with grief, self-esteem, and life transitions. - I have a lot of training and experience providing therapy using DBT - Dialectical Behavior Therapy - which helps all of us manage our emotions and relationships better, as well as find mindfulness and acceptance. - Treatment focused on the unique needs of women, LGBTQ clients, aging, postpartum, college students and transitioning families, etc. - We can write specific client-related plans for therapy

My focus

I don't have preferences as far as problems, goals, or diagnoses go. However, I hope to work with someone who will share their key information or concerns within a few sessions. I want to plan treatment together, so some degree of transparency makes that work best. I also hope that a client will feel comfortable letting me know what is or is not working. Although I always want treatment to fit, I accept that sometimes it doesn't or needs to be tweaked. So talking about it openly as we go is consistent with my preferred style of connecting.

My communication style

I've said quite a bit about my communication style already. As a collaborative and open therapist, I invite you to be who you are, to feel accepted, and to take your time and share at the pace that works for you. My tone is calm and friendly. My demeanor often includes humor. I can laugh at myself or say something funny that helps us both feel comfortable. I listen well, and I don't get impatient or irritated - anything you tell me is part of your personal narrative, and I want to honor it.

My journey to mental healthcare

After conversations with my favorite psychology teacher and with my father, I chose to become a Clinical Social Worker because I wanted to be a therapist. Social work was my first degree as an undergraduate, and MSW, Masters of Social Work was completed 3 years later. In addition to my education, I have received training in Sexuality(2-year program) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (250+ hours). I have also completed a number of Continuing Ed programs. I believe I made the right decision to be a therapist. It is still my passion. I have also been a Behavioral Health Manager for 18 years, allowing me to coach and shape others while providing therapy.

My goals for you

This is an individual thing depending on the client's hopes: Reviewing the goals they come in with, I would word what they say in behavioral terms - what would it look like if you were successful, or if things didn't work out? Primary symptoms are often addressed with the goal of reducing symptoms or improving functioning that has been impacted by symptoms. For example, for depression: reduce isolating behavior - use skills to leave the house and go to work (opposite action), and spend time out of your room with family. For anxiety, learn skills that allow you to tolerate symptoms. Practice exposure as needed to minimize harmful functioning.

My first session with you

Our first session will include a conversation about confidentiality, the show policy, and a review of how to contact me, including my full name and credentials. I explain that an Intake is a necessary conversation that allows you to talk about your concerns and allows me to learn more about you. This is a structured session. With a bit of prompting, I can move you in the direction of sharing key information, including your goals for being here. Once you've spoken, I will probably circle back and ask a couple of questions that haven't been addressed yet. Because this is your first time meeting me, my goal is to put your narrative first and have the structured Intake follow. By the time we've finished the Intake, we will probably both have an idea about what to work on first. I am looking for at least one goal, knowing more will develop. I want to take the goal and break it into behavioral terms, confirm that with you, and tweak it as needed. We may talk about homework in the first session so that you feel we are taking it seriously. And finally, we'll reschedule a session.