Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherry Rawiszer.
Hi Sherry, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I would like to start out by thanking you for featuring me in this article. I first began pursuing my passion for psychology and desire to understand what causes people to suffer mentally and emotionally as a teenager. I then majored in psychology at the University of Florida where I completed my undergraduate degree with a focus on neuroscience. I was selected to participate in an undergraduate research program for which I received a University Scholars Award in 1999. The research was affiliated with the graduate health psychology program and was conducted at Shands Hospital located in Gainesville, FL. The study’s focus was aimed at identifying how the caregivers’ quality of life was impacted while caring for their loved ones who were waiting to receive liver transplants due to a terminal illness. Following my graduation from the University of Florida I began working for a neuropsychologist in private practice where I was employed as a psychometrician with the role of administering a battery of psychological and neuropsychological assessments. . I appreciate the broad and diverse exposure these various experiences provided me with related to the field of study that I love.
I decided to pursue my Master’s Degree in Social work at Florida Atlantic University after realizing that was the best route to achieving my professional goals. I am an advocate by nature and appreciated the wide range of topics covered in the program. I began working in the field of addiction and dual diagnosis following my graduation in 2009. My experiences ranged from working as a family intervention specialist with the West Palm Beach family drug court program to working with very high-end executives at an upscale private treatment program located on Singer island. I appreciate the wide range of patient populations I was able to work with through my decade of working in the field of Addiction.
I also discovered my interest in understanding psychological trauma and best practices in the treatment of trauma with a focus on both Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Trauma is often at the root of addictive behaviors and should be treated so that the individual has a better chance at maintaining long term sobriety. I was introduced to and began my training in learning how to administer EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) in 2016. I officially became a certified EMDR practitioner through the EMDRIA organization in 2024. EMDR is a great modality and tool that helps patients to reprocess painful memories and to gain new perspective on the past. It’s also a targeted way to help client’s shift negative core beliefs into more adaptive or positive ones.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My past experience working in addiction treatment centers was definitely challenging at times. I learned a lot and believe it provided me with a solid foundation upon which I launched my private practice. In 2019 I started my private practice located in Boca Raton, Fl. Although it was scary to begin my own practice, starting from scratch and not knowing if it would be successful, I can definitely say it was the best decision I have ever made. I thoroughly enjoy working with my clients and feel grateful to have a profession doing something that I truly love and find rewarding.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Certified Clinical Trauma specialist and I use a range of modalities based on what I determine would be best to meet my client’s needs. I view trauma including childhood and relational trauma from a non – pathological perspective. I believe maladaptive or destructive coping mechanisms are the body and mind’s adaptive response to challenging experiences that were not able to be processed properly. Obsessive and compulsive behaviors are often a person’s best attempt to survive experiences which caused intense emotional pain or the person’s best way to make up for their unmet needs from childhood. I believe it’s important to consider all the experiences that helped shape my client’s life from genetics, early caregiver attachment relationships, family dynamics, peer relationships, core beliefs formed about the self and any traumatic experiences that were not fully integrated from a psychological and emotional perspective. I take the time to stay informed on advances in the field as we continue to gain more knowledge and understanding about how to best identify and treat trauma. This way I can bring that knowledge into my therapy practice. Most importantly I bring myself and the therapeutic relationship I develop with my clients striving to provide a safe, compassionate, non judgemental environment for them to heal. Together we work to uncover the memories, feelings and behavioral patterns that need to be met with compassion and understanding in order to transform. I am also a qualified supervisor for social work interns and able to provide supervision as they work toward completing their required post graduate internship hours toward licensure.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Some of the teachers who have influenced my therapeutic style and approach include the late Francine Shapiro PhD founder of EMDR therapy, Gabor Mate MD and Bessel Van Der Kolk MD who wrote the groundbreaking book “The Body Keeps the Score”. I am also grateful to the many colleagues who continue to inspire and support me on a daily basis.
Pricing:
- 150 – 200 per individual session
- accept insurance
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bocaconciergepsychotherapy.com
- Instagram: sherryrawiszerlcsw
- Facebook: sherry rawiszer LCSW
