I am a Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience providing therapy to adults and older teenagers using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Motivational Interviewing modalities to support my clients. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and I find great satisfaction in assisting my clients as they process and heal from past traumas.
I have experience working with a variety of mental health diagnoses; Major Depression, Generalized Anxiety, PTSD, Schizophrenia and others. I have worked closely with teens through the juvenile court system and Idaho Youth Ranch. I also have experience working with veterans, substance use recovery, homeless, refugees and trauma survivors.
I am easily able to build rapport and trust with my clients. I am curious and enjoy learning my clients just as much as I am hopeful to offer them. Respect of others, their lives, their history, their hopes and their beliefs is my top priority.
I earned my Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and Criminal Justice through Gonzaga University in 1996 and my Masters of Social Work through Boise State University in 2008.
I am a native Idahoan. I love the great outdoors, gardening, anything on the water, yoga, reading and music. Learning about other cultures and travel is a passion of mine.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing counseling to all ages, but specializing in child and adolescent family counseling. I have spent my professional career working with children and their families with the intent of building strong and supportive family relationships. My passion is helping parents create a nurturing and consistent environment that allows their child to thrive and reduces childhood behavioral and emotional difficulties.
With children, I take both a strengths and a systems approach, focusing on increasing the positive in a child’s life, not just in self, but in each setting that the child is part of. In order to accomplish this, I enjoy spending time with the parents, learning from them about their child and helping them to understand their child’s unique needs.
Working with children and their families has given me a unique perspective on the ways that a person’s childhood can have a profound effect on their selves as adults. I have very much enjoyed and had great success when working with adults who struggle with unresolved childhood emotions that have affected their confidence or sense of self into adulthood. I approach therapy with adults from a humanistic approach, helping individuals explore their own emotions and intentions and encouraging a greater self-awareness. I enjoy building a strong and open therapeutic relationship with each person I work with and strive to create an atmosphere where each individual feels safe and comfortable.
I received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Walla Walla College and my Masters in Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino. On my free time, I spend time with my wife and two young children, and enjoy activities such as mountain biking, camping, and playing volleyball.
I am a Licensed Master Social worker. I provide therapy to children, teens and adults, and work from a self-empowerment and strengths-based approach. I offer unconditional positive regard, and have extensive experience with a wide variety of cultures and perspectives that assists me in my understanding and rapport with people from diverse cultural and family backgrounds. This has not only allowed me to see the ways in which we each are unique and special, but especially has helped me to see the underlying themes that unite us as human beings.
I was born in Washington State, and lived the first nine years of my life there on The White Swan Indian Reservation, in the foothills of Mt Adams. My family then moved to Jerusalem, Israel, where I finished growing up. We lived on the Green Line in Jerusalem, which is the former border which separates the Jewish side of the City from the Arab side of the city. I experienced several wars as a child, and there was an army bunker built into the side of our house, which we turned into a playhouse after the war. My experiences as a child have given me a deeper understanding of the effects of trauma on children, as well as how these effects persist into adulthood. It has especially given me insight into how adverse life experiences of every kind, impact and manifest emotionally and behaviorally; but most of all it has given me a firm understanding of how these adverse effects can be mitigated and healed. I believe strongly in the resiliency of the human spirit, and have an optimistic approach to therapy.
I volunteered for two years at Family Advocates in Boise and Caldwell, providing home visits to parents of young children/infants, teaching parenting skills with an emphases on modelling positive behaviors. It is a preventive form of social work, that relies mostly on volunteers and promote positive parenting outcomes and child-development by offering education, support and encouragement to parents, teaching them age appropriate child-development and interventions.
I helped bring Alternatives to Violence and Community Building workshops to the Treasure Valley, to area schools, communities and prisons. These workshops have been shown to promote positive outcomes among a variety of populations, teaching conflict resolution and empathy-building skills. I received the Johnson Fellowship for Community Service for work at a Homeless Shelter in North Carolina. I have worked with refugee populations in Jerusalem, Lebanon and Boise.
I received my BA in Psychology from Amherst College in Massachusetts in 1991 and my Masters of Social Work from Boise State in 2018, completing my Graduate internship at Tidwell Social Work and Consulting, which specializes in multicultural counseling and community building.
Sarah Ballard, LMSW
I am a Licensed Master Social Worker and mental health therapist. My background is in the medical field, specializing in reproductive health care. I received my Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from Boise State University. Prior to continuing my education, I worked as a Licensed Midwife and care coordinator here in the Treasure Valley.
My passion is building trust and connection with my clients to set the foundation for the work that we will do together. I utilize the strengths perspective to help clients identify the qualities within themselves and resources in their life that will help them to reach their goals. Trauma-informed care and the use of inclusive language are also cornerstones of my practice. My goal is to create a space that feels inviting and safe for all humans.
I have experience working with children, adolescents and adults. My undergraduate and graduate experience included working with an array of mental health diagnoses including anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma-related disorders, and more. My experience in reproductive health care includes perinatal and postpartum mood disorders, pregnancy loss including termination, miscarriage and stillbirth, LGBTQ+ education and counseling, gender-affirming care, non-traditional relationship structures, and sexual health. I have experience working with clients in the clinical setting, via telehealth, and in clients’ homes.
As a native Idahoan, I enjoy soaking up our state’s beautiful geography. Some of my favorite pastimes include gardening, fishing, camping, games, DIY projects, baking and cooking, reading, and spending time with loved ones.
Hello! I feel truly honored to be an advocate for my clients as they work to write their own story of healing and growth. I realize that making the choice to engage in therapy takes courage and bravery and my priority is to make the experience of therapy a warm, non-judgmental, and validating space where you feel supported and encouraged to embrace your inherent worth, innate strengths, and address the obstacles you are facing, knowing that you are not alone. I want to listen to your story and help process the meanings and responses that come from it. My approach is person-centered while exploring the relationships and systems that have influenced your journey so this point. I appreciate the impact of attachment and relationship and use these approaches to gain perspective and understanding of how the past impacts the present and explore ways to grow from places that have been wounded. My personality is warm and straightforward which I have seen helps to build trust and comfort in the therapeutic relationship. I believe that healing takes place in the context of connection and relationship and will help to support the positive supports in your life. My goal is to inspire hope and possibility and I bring those qualities into my practice.
I am a Licensed Master Social Worker with years of experience working with adolescents, children, adults, and families. I have experience working with a variety of diagnoses including depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, personality disorders, grief and loss, adjustment disorders, and more. I love working with diverse and unique individuals and situations and am inclusive toward all sexual orientations, gender identities, and family types.
I earned by Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Boise State University in 2018 and my Masters of Social Work from Boise State University in 2019. I have worked with adolescents in inpatient psychiatric settings and with a variety of populations in community medical hospital settings. In my free time, I love spending time with my partner and our 3 kiddos, reading, playing piano, listening to a good podcast, and starting craft projects.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with many years of experience providing mental health services and support to youth, teens, and adults within community agency settings and health care and hospital settings. I work with individuals from a systems framework and holistic framework. I bring focus to what is in an individual’s control today. I focus on strengths, building empathy, realigning goals, and establishing systems that improve functioning. I work to create a warm and welcoming space for individuals to bring their full selves without judgement.
I have worked with diverse client populations which include. seniors, veterans, and medically fragile persons, developmentally disabled, and autistic adults. I also have personal experience as a cancer survivor and coping with multiple medical conditions. I received my Bachelors in Social Work in University of California, Chico and my Masters a from California State University, San Bernardino in 1997. I enjoy nature, hiking, travel, and hanging out with my son.
I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with individuals on their journey of greater self-discovery, growth, and healing.
Beatrice Carroll, LCSW, ACADC
I am a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and an Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ACADC). I received my undergraduate degree from Boise State University and my Masters in Social Work from Walla Walla University in Washington. I have been in practice for 30 years with experience in outpatient, inpatient, and residential alcohol and drug treatment programs and centers.
Addictions are my specialty. I have been in recovery since May 12, 1982 and practice the principles in my own life. I use the 12-step model and work with the addict as well as the family to ensure the whole family heals.
I also work with woman’s issues and recovery from trauma using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. I enjoy working with clients who are motivated to change behaviors that are not working in their lives. I work to empower clients to make internal and external changes to become more self-aware, enabling them to live in peace and harmony.
I have lived in Idaho for 35 years and enjoy time with family, Tai Chi, quilting, painting, and spending time in the garden.
I am a licensed Masters Social Worker. I received my Undergraduate and Masters degree from Boise State University. I am on a path toward obtaining my Clinical Social Work license.
Since I can remember, I have always wanted to help people. As your therapist, I will guide you to where you want to be. There will be no judgment when working together. I have worked with a variety of individuals ranging from children to seniors. I have worked with Veterans, LGBTQ+, teens and people with ADHD and/or Autism. I have helped clients with trauma, depression, anxiety, finding their identity, and developing coping skills. I have also helped clients deal with substance use. I welcome everyone from all walks of life and am appreciative of all clients. Your dedication and hard work is what gets you to your desired goal.
Anyone who steps into my office will be treated with dignity and respect. I use a strength based and person-centered approach. In working together, we will shed light on your strengths while also identifying and working on your needs and/or goals.
I am an Idaho native. I love the outdoors, camping, walking my dog, playing with my cats, playing video games, reading, spending time with my partner and drinking coffee.
Hello! I am excited to join the Avanzar family as a social work intern. I am dedicated to helping adults navigate life’s challenges and discover their inner strengths. I strive to build a strong therapeutic relationship with my clients based on trust, empathy, and mutual respect. I seek to provide a safe, non-judgemental space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered to make positive changes.
I am a second-year intern and am working towards my Master of Social Work from Boise State University. I received my undergraduate degree in political science with an emphasis in public law and political philosophy from Boise State University. I have worked in an inpatient psychiatric unit and have experience working with a variety of mental health diagnoses. My goal is to create a compassionate, safe space for all humans. I utilize a trauma-informed, collaborative, strengths-based approach. In my free time I love spending time with my dog, family, and friends, and enjoy activities such as puzzles, creating art, watching the sunset, and connecting with others.