ABOUT ME 

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A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist, I am a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional and work with the perinatal population, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. While I have been practicing psychotherapy since 2012, I was also a full time school social worker for almost ten years. In that role, I provided individual, group, and family counseling, crisis intervention, mediation, and acted as a conduit between students, teachers, administration, community organizations, and families.   

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While earning my master’s degree, I worked as a case manager and counselor with the City & County of Honolulu Youth Services Center, and a research assistant for a project entitled, “Promoting Social Competence and Resilience of Native Hawaiian Youth.”  Post master’s degree, I served as the Vice President of Curriculum and Evaluation for a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Hawaii where my responsibilities included youth mentoring and counseling, curriculum training, program evaluation, reporting, data collection, research, and grant writing.

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During my doctoral studies at Rutgers, I studied how childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) negatively affect the brain and behavior, and how exposure to these experiences manifests within the school setting. The trauma-informed guide I developed for school staff can be found at https://alexiskaliades7.wixsite.com/mysite-trauma. My research provided me with a deeper understanding of how trauma may affect our day to day lives. 

 

TREATMENT APPROACH

 

Psychotherapy is a profound means of self-discovery, and can provide understanding of our relationship with ourselves and with others. Therapy is characterized by a holistic approach that acknowledges the interaction between past experiences, current challenges, and future goals. Open dialogue concerning one's thoughts, emotions, and life experiences is encouraged. This free expression allows for a deeper understanding of one's journey; promoting healing, growth, and enhanced self-awareness. At times, reflection that highlights patterns, connections, and underlying emotions may be offered; this process often yields meaningful insight into one's experiences. 

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EDUCATION, LICENSES, & CERTIFICATIONS

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• Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH-C), Postpartum Support International, Issued September 2023​​

• Doctorate in Social Work, School of Social Work, New Brunswick, NJ, May 2019

• Master of Social Work, Hawaii Pacific University, School of Social Work, Honolulu, HI, May 2010

• Modern Psychoanalytic Studies: One Year Program, Academy of Applied and Clinical Psychoanalysis, Livingston, NJ, May 2013  

• Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs, Lafayette College, Easton, PA, May 2003​

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of New Jersey, License Number 44SC05679000, Issued March 2016​

• Certificate in Clinical Supervision, Rutgers School of Social Work, Issued December 2018