Mina Kirkova, MA, MSW, LCSW-C Counseling: About Me

Note: The LCSW-Cs have a graduate academic degree, have had at least two years of supervised clinical work experience, have passed a national licensing exam, and have a higher level of clinical experience than that required by the LCS credential. These advanced professionals can receive health-care insurance reimbursements.

Education

I hold a Masters degree in Social Work from Portland State University (OR) and a MA in International Studies from the University of Oregon. I obtained my BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Linfield College, OR.

Work Experience

Before establishing my private practice, I worked as a Child and Family Therapist at one of the top residential and outpatient trauma treatment facilities in the US, Jasper Mountain Center (JMC), Oregon. At JMC, I specialized in treating severely abused, neglected, emotionally disturbed, and traumatized children/adolescents (4-17) and their biological, adoptive, or foster families. I gained invaluable experience from working with children and adults with attachment disorders, sexual reactivity problems, and violent or anti-social behavior. My ability to speak several languages assisted me to a great extent in my work with foreign adoptions. At Options Counseling Services of Oregon, I treated adult clients with mood and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and PTSD. I have also worked as a Case Advocate for the South Asian Women’s Empowerment and Resource Alliance, an Oregon-based organization assisting South Asian women survivors of domestic violence, and served as the Head of the Organizational-Administrative Committee (Board of Directors).

Specialties

Over the course of my work with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, I have gained a broad base of knowledge and experience

in the following areas and disorders:

·        Trauma Recovery, Posttraumatic Stress

·        Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Abuse

·        Adoption, Attachment Issues

·        Conduct Disorder

·        Oppositional Defiant Disorder

·        Parenting Problems

·        Raising Challenging Children

·        Relationship Problems

·        Perinatal and Postpartum Issues

·        Separation, Divorce, Families in Transition

·        Anxiety, Depression

·        Life Transitions, Aging

·        Grief and Loss

·        Stress Reduction and Management

·        Work and Career Issues

·        Self-Esteem, Assertiveness, Empowerment

Treatment Modalities

I provide my clients with an individually designed treatment in a safe and supportive environment that draws and builds upon each person's goals, strengths, and resources. I use and combine the following theories/therapies:

· Play Therapy

· Art Therapy (no art experience needed)

· Narrative Therapy

· Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

· Family/Marital Therapy

· Psychoanalytic Therapy

· Family Systems Therapy

· Dance and Movement Therapy

· Solution-Focused Therapy

· Relaxation, Guided, and Wellness Imagery

· Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

· Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

· Christian Counseling