About Dr. Grace Waite
Dr. Grace Waite is a licensed psychologist under the supervision of Dr. Samantha Winton. Dr. Waite specializes in the treatment of teens, young adults, and adults struggling with depression and anxiety disorders, relationship issues, trauma, identity, and sexuality concerns, and eating disorders. Dr. Waite helps patients gain greater understanding of themselves, improve their family, romantic, and friendship relationships, develop coping skills for anxiety and depression, and improve their relationship with food and their body. She enjoys helping clients to feel confident in their ability to cope with life stressors and develop greater enjoyment in the meaningful parts of their life. Dr. Waite helps patients gain confidence navigating major transitions in their lives, work, and relationships.
Dr. Waite has had focused training in university counseling centers working with individuals pursuing highly demanding academic, music, and arts careers. In these settings, Dr. Waite has helped clients to develop greater insight into their identity and their relationships with others, while addressing mood and anxiety concerns that may be impacting their day to day functioning. Dr. Waite has worked with a variety of presenting concerns with particular experience working with depression, family dynamics, trauma, self-esteem, and LGBT+ issues.
Dr. Waite utilizes a collaborative approach to help her clients reach unique goals for treatment. She believes that the therapeutic space should foster hope as clients explore challenges in their present and difficult experiences in their past. Dr. Waite works to create a non-judgmental space in which her clients can grow at their own pace while also challenging unhelpful coping skills that are no longer serving them.
Dr. Waite earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida and her doctorate in Clinical psychology from William James College. She completed her predoctoral internship at the Florida State University Counseling Center where she worked with individual, couples, and groups navigating the challenges of undergraduate and graduate education as well as interpersonal concerns, identity development, and family dynamics.
Dr. Grace Waite: Specialties
Feelings of anxiety and panic can impact all facets of our lives. Overthinking can get in the way of us connecting in our relationships or preforming to the best of our ability at work or school. Developing healthy coping skills for anxiety such as grounding skills, mindfulness skills, or challenging unhelpful thinking styles can help us to feel more confident coping with anxious thoughts and enable us to navigate life with more ease.
Relationships can be both a source of joy and a major source of stress in our lives. For some, it may be challenging to set boundaries, or it may be difficulty to prioritize taking care of themselves over others. For others, it may be difficult to open up and trust in relationships and they may find themselves always feeling lonely even when around others. Through developing a greater understanding of yourself and your past and present relationships, we can work together to enable you to be the person you want to be in relationships and build the relationships that you want to have.
Eating Disorders and disordered eating patterns can have a big impact on school, work, relationships, and health. Developing an adaptive and balanced relationship with food, exercise, or your body can be found through a variety of treatment options. We can work together, either individually or with your family, to develop a plan for success – one in which you get back to living and thriving, without the grips of an eating disorder.
There is no one type of trauma, and every individual has a unique understanding of what may be a traumatic experience for them. What is similar, is the way that trauma, both recent or historical, can impact how we perceive the world and our relationship to others. Our sense of safety in the world and trust in others can feel fundamentally changed. Together we can work to process these experiences and develop in-the-moment coping skills to help with navigating emotions that may feel overwhelming or scary. In doing so, we can work to access your sense of strength and resilience. You can develop greater control of the narrative, so that these experiences can be just one part, but not your whole story.
Whether it is moving away from home and attending college or beginning your career, the first years of adulthood can feel overwhelming and uncertain. During these years, you may notice yourself developing an understanding of who you are that is different from who you were in childhood and who others in your life may have expected you to be. I will create a supportive space in which you can develop greater understanding of yourself and your place in the world while also navigating the unique relationship and career challenges of being a young adult.
Mood related concerns can feel like they take over all other aspects of our lives. Our goals for the future, our daily functioning, and our relationships can all feel colored by longstanding feelings of sadness and detachment. I will help you develop greater understanding of the core beliefs and experiences which may be informing your feeling of depression while also helping you to identify the unique copings skills that will help you to access the feelings of hope and joy that may feel far away
Treatment Approaches
CBT — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – CBT is an evidence-based treatment for a variety of mental health concerns including anxiety and depression. It focuses on identifying emotions and thoughts and uses cognitive restructuring (reframing thoughts) as well as behavioral changes to improve mood, decrease anxiety, and feel more in control of ones emotions and life.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness – Mindfulness is a practice of turning ones attention to the present moment. It is a practice of noticing thoughts, feelings, and intentions through breath work in an effort to feel more safe, calm, and present. It is often incorporated within other therapy techniques, however it has been shown to be as effective as antidepressants in treating depression.
Group Therapy
Group Therapy – Group therapy can be a highly effective way to access mental health care, receive feedback in a safe setting, and grow interpersonally. I am passionate about group therapy and hope to provide high quality group therapy at Integrated Care Clinic.
Family Systems
Family Systems – Family Systems is a type of family therapy that evaluates how the family connect, communicate, and interact with each other. It is helpful for families struggling with communication, boundaries or rules, and emotional expression.
Psychodynamics
Psychodynamic – Psychodynamic Therapy focuses on self-reflection and self-examination. It is helpful for clients who seek to further develop their own understanding of themselves and evaluate how their unconscious thoughts and memories may impact them as adults and within their relationships.
