A little about me: After growing up mainly in the Northwest, I now live in North Idaho and love the variety here: mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and even the wildly unpredictable seasons (I’m pretty sure that we have more than four..). It makes my favorite activities –cycling, canoeing, clambering– that much more rewarding, and I feel very fortunate to grow my family here. I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology (B.S.) from the University of Idaho, my master’s degree in social work (MSW) from Boise State University, my initial license (LMSW), and finally my current credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Idaho. I’ve worked as an AmeriCorps volunteer serving rural schools in Washington state, a wilderness counselor for troubled teens in North Carolina, a mentor for students in several therapeutic residential programs, and a variety of other things. I believe that my values of communicating in empathy, relating as equals, educating with a sense of curiosity & challenging from a place of respect all harmonize in an approach that increases self-understanding, encourages personal growth, and opens possibilities for people to create the life they want. Because everyone has their own unique way of relating to themselves and the world around them, individual people and cases call for personalized treatment based on their own needs. With this in mind, I lean toward strengths-based, existential, and cognitive theories of treatment, and use CBT, psychoeducation, and narrative techniques to help people challenge & change their own self-defeating thoughts & assumptions, unwanted emotions, and destructive patterns. I also often use play therapy exercises, role-playing, gentle humor, relaxation techniques, written works & other media sources, journaling & artwork as appropriate & helpful. I’m often reminded of the adage: “Everyone you meet is mid-journey,” and this very much applies to me as well. -Si Thompson, LCSW