Manuel Occhiogrosso

Trauma-Informed Counseling

Helping individuals approach the future with optimism.

Offering telehealth throughout Washington, Maryland, Texas, and Florida.

Manuel Occhiogrosso, LMHC

Choosing the right therapist should be simple...but sometimes it isn't. Sifting through hundreds of counselors to find the right fit is confusing and effortful.

I know because I've been there! It is important you have a therapist you connect with and with whom you feel comfortable. Your ability to be open to the counseling process can make all the difference to a successful outcome.

I'd therefore like to start by sharing the type of client who generally has a positive experience with me. This will help you determine whether I may be the right fit for you.

Clients who often have a successful experience are those who come with a readiness to self reflect and who want to create new possibilities for themselves based on meaning and purpose. Though they likely feel grieved by the past, they are unwilling to live a restricted existence because of it. They are open to the possibility of healing and are ready to write the next chapter.

I only take on a limited number of clients so I can offer the best therapeutic experience for each person. If you believe I may be the right fit, I invite you to read about my therapeutic approach and professional experience below.

"Helping individuals heal from the past and reclaim ownership of their lives."

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Counseling for Trauma and PTSD

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I am trained to look for the widespread impact of trauma on a client's life and relationships and to consider underlying reasons for their particular beliefs and behaviors. I'm passionate about working with individuals to help them overcome their past and find meaning in life after trauma.

I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a psychotherapy treatment used to alleviate the distress associated with past trauma. Clients who engage in EMDR go through an eight-phase treatment that involves attention to the past, present and future. EMDR therapy addresses past emotional disturbances, memories and events, while helping the person develop new skills and attitudes to move toward a positive tomorrow.

I am grateful each day to play a role in the facilitation of healing and transformation. I am truly fulfilled by my work, because I see the positive impact it makes on a person's life.

What to Expect in Counseling

My job as a therapist is to facilitate the process of healing and change using evidence-based treatments and a humanizing stance. I am fully committed to meeting the individual needs of my clients and I make every effort to personally tailor the process.

I take an existential approach in that I see many of the problems we experience are part of the human condition. Unfortunately, our reality is limited by what we can perceive. I view the process of psychotherapy as an ever-evolving lens to understanding the perceptions we have of ourselves and the relationships we have with our external world. The therapeutic process enables us to change our vantage point so we can see things more clearly, assess the challenges that lay ahead of us, and approach the future with optimism and healthier concept of self.

I make a commitment to you to work hard to help you get better, feel happier and attain goals which previously may have seemed impossible.

My Background & Experience

Manny Occhiogrosso has over 20 years of experience in the mental health field as a therapist, consultant, and healthcare administrator. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor certified by the National Board of Counselors, Manny is passionate about working with varied populations, and has done so in a variety of settings—with their families in their homes, in hospitals, residential treatment, and in private practice. He specializes in treating anxiety disorders, codependency, and family conflict, works extensively with EMDR and has developed treatment programs utilizing Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, hypnotherapy, expressive arts, and experiential modalities. As a qualified clinical supervisor since 2006, he mentors mental health professionals in their lifelong goals of helping clients and their families.

Credentials

Master's degrees from the Center for Psychological Studies at Nova Southeastern University and the University of Miami

Health Administration Certification from the College of Human Ecology, Cornell University

Licensed in Washington and Florida