User:Jsnsilk

www.lisasilk.net

My name is Lisa Silk, my personal and professional passion is helping individuals and families suffering from addiction. In 1999 someone told me, "There may be a greater reason you had to suffer so deeply." I heard this in a way I never had heard before. And so I felt if I could help someone else get out of the pain and despair that comes with addiction, then my suffering would have been worth it. This has been my mission ever since.

I am a Licensed Social Worker in Ardmore, Pennsylvania specializing in the treatment of individuals and families with addiction. I subscribe to the disease concept of addiction and do not view substance abuse as a moral deficiency. I do not necessarily believe it is required to seek help from a professional who “has been there,” but I remember wanting someone to not only understand me from a professional level, but also from a personal one. Much of the structure of my practice stems from solutions I struggled to find in seeking my own help.

I sought education, licensure, and clinical work in order to ensure the breadth of my training would complement the depth of my experience. I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maryland, Baltimore with a master's in Social Work (MSW). My specialization was in Clinical Mental Health and Substance Abuse. I am also a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in the state of Pennsylvania.

Prior to working in private practice, I served as a Family Therapist and Substance Abuse Counselor at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, I was a co-facilitator of the Early Recovery and Relapse Prevention Groups at Kolmac Clinic, formerly Partners in Recovery at Sheppard Pratt and Crossroads Centers. Both of these facilities are Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for substance abuse related disorders located in Baltimore, Maryland.

My approach can best be described as, “get out of your own way” therapy. I integrate the qualities of caring and compassion into my work. While relying on both short and longer-term techniques, I never follow a cookie-cutter approach to psychotherapy, since each person is different and has different needs. My work is practical, interactive, and solution focused. I believe in using a motivating and empowering approach to help my clients feel confident, be better able to address their issues, and to learn new ways to think about their choices and behaviors so that they make healthier decisions and create better outcomes. I provide support and practical feedback as I work collaboratively with my clients to help them find solutions, get relief, and find peace in themselves and in their lives.