Mission Statement
Helping people achieve greater personal growth and empowerment; by healing of lifelong hurts: moving toward overcoming the often times disabling effects of depression, bi-polar disorder, eating disorders, addiction, co-dependency, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorder and excessive anxiety; reducing the confusion created by those challenges: helping to change a life that's not working into a life that blossoms into a full, rich, energizing and desirable experience. This is my passion and life purpose.
Whether as a social worker, therapist or business owner I always come back to helping people gain emotional well-being by teaching people how to survive and thrive during difficult times.
My work is all about redirecting feelings of hopelessness or despair into energies of realistic options; creating a wealth of living possibilities. It’s my mission to help people be in touch with their Highest-self ; through self-reflection, discovery, acceptance and re-processing of old beliefs; gaining a higher-self direction toward fulfilling goals and living a quality of life that is achievable.
As a young adult I became interested in what makes people abandon their dreams or behave badly toward themselves or others.
Finding myself to feel burdened by this, my response was to take stalk of my own life experience by exploring ways I could improve my own situation as well as the situation of those close to me. Like many people, I found myself going round in the same circle while seemingly repeating different versions of the same life lessons.
Eventually, I learned that self-exploration can bring about change more quickly when new elements are brought into the equation. So, I took a leap of faith and decided to reach out and build trusting relationships with those who were professionally trained and experienced in the science of understanding and healing others. In doing so, I learned that an inside journey is most effectively guided by carefully trained, professionally objective and gifted listeners.
As my own healing and growth continued, my dreams of living a life with joy and accomplishments began to take shape.
First of all, my richest life joy was and has always been in raising my two children. While they attended elementary school, I attended a four year university specializing in psychology and human services with minors in education and sociology (UNE).
These studies were followed by four years of specialized employment in a state of the art mental health hospital located in Southwester United States (www.themeadows.com). Joining a multi discipline team of professionals in a medically and spiritually based teaching environment, I administered group psychotherapy to individuals and families for the treatment of depression, anxiety, bi-polar, post traumatic stress, eating disorders, addiction and co-dependency.
Because of a desire to return to New England and to expand what I had learned in the field of mental health while working in the Southwest, I returned to live and work in the state of my birth, New Hampshire.
This move was followed by four+ years of employment in the field of Human Services providing adoption services, parenting services and family therapy to adults and children; then my return to the University for post-graduate studies, applying my clinical experience to academics and completing a two years graduate program earning a Master's Degree in Social Work, "MSW". (UNH)
This was followed by three years of employment providing mental health services to severe and persistently mentally ill adults. This service offered me an experience that was rich in many ways. It also rounded my professional experience and prepared me to earn my clinical license with the NH Board of Mental Health "LICSW". Then, following a work experience in providing services to families ahd the elderly with dementia, I felt ready to enter into private practice.
In the summer of 2007, I began my work in private practice by teaming with a psychiatric team in Gilford NH. This move was a very successful undertaking and in 2009 I expanded my practice to include an office in Alton, NH. I offer individual, couples, family and group therapies.
I know from both personal and professional experience that it's possible to do this, but not alone. I am here and I would like to help you too.
As your helper and guide, I make the following commitments to you:
· I’ll be easy to talk to
· I'll listen unconditionally
· I'll gently but directly tell you the truth as I see it
· I'll support, encourage, and applaud your successes
· I'll help you learn to emote effectively and take action
for generating effective results in your own life
· I'll help you learn to clear your thoughts
· I’ll give you new perspectives to consider
· I'll teach new skills in listening to your wiser inner self
So, now that you’ve heard a little of my story, I’d love to hear yours. Don’t hesitate to call and make an appointment today.
You can reach me by phone or send me an e-mail.
I'm looking forward to talking with you.
603 941-4878
Alton, NH
My phone service are completely confidential and available 24/7.
Estelle Thibodeau Bernier
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
(603) 941-4878
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
(603) 941-4878
CKR