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Hi there and Aloha! My name is Josephine Asiata-Tuuga and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker living in Puyallup, WA, but my license is in the beautiful state of Hawaii, working with clients statewide via telehealth.
My approach
My approach to therapy varies based on the needs of each person I work with. I most frequently use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy paired with Mindfulness-based Therapy. Each therapeutic modality supports the client and myself in building a rapport, and an understanding of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; while accepting each of the aforementioned and developing steps toward forward progression
My focus
My experience comes from working with adults with co-occurring disorders (mental health and substance use). I also have experience in working with adolescents with mental health challenges. The therapeutic modalities I utilize have been known to work best for both the adult and adolescent populations.
My communication style
The environment I create for my clients is a safe, attentive, caring, and engaging space. While it is extremely important to be present with my clients, it is just as important to focus on and hear what direction the client would like to head towards. I assign homework to ensure the work we are doing is being applied and how.
My journey to mental healthcare
I knew even as a child that my purpose was to serve and help people in need. That was and still is my driving force to becoming the best therapist I can be.
My goals for you
My approach to goal setting is collaboration between the client and I. While clients may need guidance and direction at the start, it is important that they are steering the direction in which their treatment takes.
My first session with you
Getting to know the client, their story, and what brought them to therapy is important to learn in the first few sessions. So, I prefer to utilize the first few sessions to do just this, 'get to know' the individual sitting in front of me. This is a critical time when the client is allowed a safe space to share about themselves and the challenges they face.
