Katerra E Davis LMFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides mental health services in Victorville. With a passion for helping individuals and families navigate complex issues, Katerra specializes in working with blended families and adolescents. She believes that these populations are often misunderstood and underrepresented in society, which is why she is dedicated to providing personalized and empathetic care to her clients. MysticMag finds out more.
What inspired you to become a licensed marriage and family therapist, and what do you enjoy most about your work?
I was originally a criminal justice major and after college I began working for a major retailer investigating internal and external theft and fraud cases. The position was intriguing and exciting and being in southern California, I dealt with a large variety of cases. Over time, the position took its toll. The position was extremely stressful and had a huge negative impact in my life. I have always loved and cared about people and the position was making it harder for me to trust people and to see the good in others. There were times where I felt that I was doing more harm than good and that is what helped me to change careers and go into the mental health field. The thing that I enjoy the most about my career is the knowledge that I gain through each of my clients. Every interaction is an opportunity to gain insight into life and that is so very precious to me.
How do you approach therapy sessions with couples and families, and what techniques do you find most effective in promoting positive change and growth?
I like to approach couples and/or family sessions from a strength-based perspective. I like to find what strengths are naturally existing within the relationship and leverage those strengths to reduce what isn’t working well in the relationship.
Your website mentions that you specialize in helping clients navigate issues related to anxiety, depression, and trauma. How do you help clients manage these challenges, and what strategies do you find most effective in promoting healing and resilience?
One technique that I like to use for PTSD and anxiety is HeartMath. It helps clients with being able to better manage their central nervous system and allows clients to witness the positive impact of breathing skills renewing activities. When working with clients dealing with depression I primarily focus on their thought processes and teach them skills on how to better manage their thoughts and emotions.
Many people are hesitant to seek therapy due to stigma or a lack of understanding about what therapy entails. How do you help clients feel more comfortable and supported in therapy, and what advice would you give to someone who is considering therapy but feeling hesitant?
I see lots of clients who are hesitant/apprehensive about therapy and work hard at providing a comfortable environment where people can feel more comfortable. I do not have a traditional sterile type medical office and instead have an office full of color and comfortable furniture. I keep lots of different sensory objects in my office for clients to fiddle with and puzzles to work on while we talk when they are feeling nervous. I am open and very genuine with my clients and tend to use humor a lot. When dealing with a client who is hesitant, I tend to help them by encouraging them to tell their story in a way that will help me understand and visualize what transpired. I am very inquisitive and I feel that my background in the criminal justice field has helped me with being able to easily establish rapport.
As a therapist, what do you believe are some of the most important qualities or skills for success in this field, and how have you developed and honed these over the course of your career?
I think that being genuine, a good listener and empathetic are extremely important qualities to have in this field. They all contribute to being able to establish rapport and a healthy therapeutic alliance. I am constantly learning and honing these skills by seeking knowledge through each of my clients and their therapeutic process. I think it comes down to asking the right questions in a way that helps both the therapist and the client develop a better understanding of what is bringing the client in for therapy.
If you would like to find out more about Katerra Davis, visit https://www.katerralmft.com/
