Rate Louis Walthall

I am a multi-racial, African, Indigenous, Irish American. I have over 35 years of experience practicing in the field of human behavior. I graduated with a communication arts degree from Hofstra University, film. Because of my interest in documentaries and people, I completed graduate school with a Master of Social Work degree, at Stony Brook University. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), with years of advanced trainings in the many aspects of both alcohol, substance abuse and mental health; and the treatment of the dual diagnoses.

I began as a Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) throughout graduate school and am now a CASAC-Master. I Went on to complete graduate school and became a psychiatric social worker/psychotherapist, and an Addictions Specialist. The population of people I have treated, over the many years, have been very diverse; from Long Island to New York City. They were from elementary, high school, college, pre/post-incarceration, veterans and from all of the professions. I’ve worked with all ethnicities, most religions and have been successful with LGBTQ clients. I have worked in alcohol substance abuse clinics, correctional facilities, forensic psychotherapy in the courts, expert witness Bronx County for children and adolescents, rehabilitation facilities, mental health clinics, children’s psychotherapy services; developed and administered dual disorder programs; all while having a private psychotherapy practice.

The strength of my style, I believe, is that I emphasize authenticity in engagement with my clients, in combination with the need for attachments. I believe a lack of authenticity creates unnecessary anxiety. I hope to develop a client-centered therapeutic alliance with my clients. This approach has worked for me and my clients and has helped in achieving their goals together. My approach is also eclectic and is based mainly on using a variety of cognitive-behavioral techniques; using motivational interviewing initially to establish goals. I have had particularly successful experience in addressing anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, Bipolar disorder, Dissociative disorders, and OCD. I also have been successful in counseling couples, using couple/marital therapy techniques.

I believe psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is one of the most powerful forms of therapy in the world. The world would be a better place if more people took advantage of this modality. It is a smart choice for anyone stuck and fearful of changing their behaviors or simply not knowing how to even begin.