Welcome (again) Dr. Aysha DeSilva!
We are excited to announce that Dr. Aysha DeSilva will be successfully completing her postdoctoral fellowship with TREC DC in a few weeks, but we don’t have to say goodbye! Aysha will be continuing to provide trauma-focused therapy as well as trainings and workshops at TREC DC as a full-time associate. We are so grateful to get to continue to work with her, and wanted to share a brief interview with Aysha so you can get to know her a bit more as well! If you are interested in scheduling a consultation with Aysha, or learning more about services at TREC DC, please contact us. Q: Why did you decide to specialize in working with individuals who have experienced trauma? Aysha: Before starting at TREC DC, I completed my training at university counseling centers. There were many students who were deeply impacted by trauma. Some forms of trauma that were presented included relational trauma, intergenerational trauma, bullying, and grief/loss, to name a few. Because of this experience, I wanted to specialize in trauma to help those who needed services. Q: What did you enjoy most about your postdoctoral fellowship? Aysha: Something, I enjoyed the most was being part of a supportive team that offered amazing supervision, mentorship meetings, and weekly group meetings. My thoughts concerning clinical cases were always encouraged. Q: What surprised you the most about your postdoc? Aysha: I was surprised by the flexibility that my postdoc offered. I was given a chance to structure my schedule, work from home, and work-life balance was encouraged. This allowed me to be a better clinician when working with my clients. Q: What are you looking forward to in your transition from postdoctoral fellow to associate? Aysha: I’m most looking forward to continue meeting with my clients and adding more to my caseload! This transition will allow me to build upon the clinical skills that were taught during my doctoral fellowship. Q: How do you approach treatment when working with individuals who have experienced trauma? Aysha: I approach my work using a relational framework first and foremost; developing a therapeutic relationship with my clients is super important before beginning trauma treatment. The treatment modalities I use include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) which have been proven effective for treating trauma.
Q: What do you wish more people knew about healing from trauma? Aysha: Healing takes time, but the benefits are worth it! Q: How do you engage in self-care? What do you do when you’re not working? Aysha: I enjoy spending time with friends, reading fiction novels, watching documentaries, and playing my acoustic guitar for relaxation😊
For more information on TREC DC and our services, please visit our website or contact us today!