Counseling, Therapy, and Supervision in South Carolina
I provide supervision for graduate interns and clinical supervision for newly licensed associates. I am committed to providing comprehensive mental health care to address a variety of needs throughout a woman’s lifespan. My services meet these needs and foster good mental health. I am an inclusive, affirming, culturally competent, multicultural mental health provider for all women: cisgender, transgender, intersex, non-binary, and woman/feminine identified. I welcome and serve all ethnic, cultural, racial, and religious communities. I help clients heal from anxiety, depression, dysphoria, trauma/stressors, and more, teaching clients constructive coping skills and healthy thinking to promote their healing and improve their well-being. My specializations are integrative mental health (IMH), multicultural counseling, and women’s mental health. My specialty areas and issues align with the communities we serve. We are qualified and culturally sensitive to work with the veteran community, the Hispanic/LatinX community, and the LGBTQIA2S+ community. We are bilingual (English/Spanish), military veteran, and LGBTQIA2S+ with lived experience. Individual and group sessions are available. We offer in-office and telehealth appointments.
Through our nonprofit, The X-Studio: A Mental Health Cooperative our Reduced Cost Mental Health Services Program is staffed by our qualified Licensed Professional Counselor-Interns (LPC-I) and Licensed Professional Counselor-Associates (LPC-A) who provide reduced cost mental health services such as counseling and therapy, groups, and more to clients who are struggling with many issues and challenges, including trauma/stressors, disabilities, depression, anxiety, addiction/substance abuse, rehabilitation, grief, and more. They serve individuals, couples, families, and children who are unable to afford mental health services due to financial challenges, income, lack of insurance, or because they are underinsured. Contact us below with the subject line “Reduced Cost Mental Health Services Program.”
The-X Community Service Project
No-cost mental health services are available!
Through our community service project, The X-Community Service Project, which is an initiative under our nonprofit The X-Studio: A Mental Health Cooperative, our Licensed Professional Counselor-Interns provide no cost mental health services to the unhoused women who are current or past guests of Keys to Change - The Light House - Women’s Shelter in Summerville, SC. We have partnered with Keys to Change - The Light House - Women’s Shelter, formerly Dorchester County Community Outreach- DCCO - Centers for the Unhoused, to support this women’s shelter that is a haven for women in need.
We offer free mental health counseling in a supportive, compassionate environment.
Our counselors/therapists are highly skilled professionals who are passionate about providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed care that meets the unique needs of each person.
Women Veteran’s Mental Health Program
Counseling/therapy for women veterans
Women Veterans are the fastest-growing Veteran population and have unique mental health needs. We, SWMHS, are a SonderMind Mental Health Care Provider. SonderMind is a trusted Community Care partner with the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Community Care Network (CCN) to help Veterans get the care they need when needed. Veteran mental health support, founded and led by a Veteran. Your home for mental health support, specialized for the Veteran community. Veterans can get a VA referral for counseling/therapy to schedule an appointment with us https://www.sondermind.com/therapy-for-veterans/
Veterans who do not want to receive services via the SonderMind platform or the Veterans Administration (VA) system can receive services directly from us, SWMHS, as a private-pay client with a discount rate. Register and schedule directly with us on our Client Portal and choose the option “veteran”. Or text/call us at (843) 695-9974.
In-office and telehealth counseling/therapy for women veterans in South Carolina (SC).
Mental Health Services
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Counseling
Counseling involves working with a clinical mental health counselor on a specific issue for a limited time. For example, counseling can help you with problems with a particular issue or situation. You can see a state-licensed and credentialed counselor to learn how to improve things. Another example is counseling can help you if you have difficulty managing stress and want guidance on tools you can use when you are stressed out. Usually, counseling focuses on a specific issue for a limited time.
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Therapy
Therapy can be more long-term and focuses on you as an individual — how you see yourself and the world, your thoughts, and your behaviors, as well as the underlying patterns of why you do what you do. For example, if you were suffering from depression, you and your mental health therapist can explore how depression impacts your everyday life and how to develop better coping strategies so that you can feel better. You usually go to therapy sessions on a more long-term basis.
Therapy can include counseling on specific issues that arise during your conversations with your therapist. On the other hand, if a counselor sees underlying patterns and concerns that affect the issues at hand, they may recommend that you start therapy. Many clinicians may be trained in both therapy and counseling.
Clinical Focus -
(DSM-5)
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If you are feeling consumed by fears of things that might seem irrational to others, or if is hard to relate these concerns to others:
I help you learn how to stop anxiety from impeding your ability to enjoy life, interact at school, work or hang out with friends, and deal with problems it might cause at home.
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If you are dealing with severe thoughts that can affect how you feel, think and handle daily activities such as sleeping, eating, or working:
I create a space for you to safely navigate these moods and work through whether or not they may be caused by a certain biological, hormonal, or social factor.
Major Depressive Disorder, Single and Recurrent Episodes (MDD)
Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern (SAD/Seasonal Affective Disorder)
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If you are feeling a sense of unease because of a mismatch between your biological sex and your gender identity, and if this sense of unease or dissatisfaction is so intense that it leads to depression and anxiety that cause a harmful impact on your daily life:
I use evidence-based tools to help provide you with lasting relief that include acceptance, affirmation and/or confirmation of your identity.
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If you are experiencing intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, changes in physical and emotional reaction, flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about a terrifying event, by either experiencing it or witnessing it, and this is causing significant problems in social or work situations, in relationships, or if they are interfering with your ability to go about your normal daily tasks:
I provide you with effective treatment to help reduce your symptoms and improve your function.
Clinical Supervision Available for Licenced Professional Counselor-Associates (LPCA)
Hi! I’m Clinical Mental Health Counselor Xiomara A. Sosa
I am a mental health clinician who focuses on treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. I combine conventional and non-conventional therapies to treat mental health issues and aim to address the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to mental health. This approach includes mental health, physical health, emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, and spiritual needs. I help clients identify patterns in their lives that may contribute to their struggles and work on developing strategies for making healthier choices.
