Paul Latell, MSW, LISW-S

Licensure
Licensed Independent Social Worker
Supervising Social Worker

Education
Master of Social Work Degree, Clinical Social Worker, May 1977
Barry University, Miami, Florida

Bachelor of Arts Degree, Psychology, May 1974
John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio

Professional History
Mr. Latell has been a mental health therapist with PsyCare since 2010 helping children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety, depression, and other emotional, cognitive, and behavioral problems. Mr. Latell previously worked as a counselor with Catholic Charities, Youngstown, Ohio. Before then Mr. Latell was a mental health counselor with Parkview Counseling Center and The Child and Adult Mental Health Center also in Youngstown, Ohio.

Mr. Latell completed his graduate internship with The Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitation Service, Dade County Florida. There he counseled children and parents in the juvenile justice system assisting young people toward a positive life direction. Mr. Latell helped juveniles and their families in solving their problems, building supportive family relationships, and affirmative parenting.

Mr. Latell completed a second internship with Henderson Mental Health Center, Broward County, Florida. At Henderson Mental Health Center he counseled individuals, marital couples, and families suffering from mental heath problems such as anxiety and depression, and from alcoholism. Mr. Latell also received a Graduate Assistantship with the U.S. Department of Justice assisting paroled inmates in their readjustment to the community

Specialties

• Mental health counseling for children, adolescent, and adults
• Depression and anxiety
• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• Obsessive compulsive problems
• Adjustment disorders with anxiety or depression
• Attention concentration problems

Professional Objectives
Mental illness is like a thief; it robs us of our peace of mind, our dignity, the ability to use our gifts and attain honorable achievements for ourselves, families, and communities. It is a hurtful force leaving in its wake psychic pain and the wrenching anguish of opportunities and chances of fulfillment in life lost.

My aim and wish for the patients I counsel is for them to achieve as quickly and effectively as possible mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. I aspire that they be free from mental and emotional affliction so they may fulfill their hopes, dreams, and potential for good.

As a mental health therapist, I work to build an understanding with those I am counseling that emotional and mental problems happen to people, not something that determines who they are. What defines them is their dignity and self worth as a person, their courage to face their problem, and their heart and spiritual values guiding them toward what is good.

Theoretical Orientation
In my approach to counseling I embrace Person Centered Therapy (Carl Rogers), a humanistic perspective which emphasizes the whole person. It teaches that when given the opportunity, people have a natural inclination to strive toward health and healing, fulfilling their potential in becoming all they can be – self actualization. I help my patients in self discovery of adaptive cognitions and behaviors which when practiced daily will help lessen anxiety and depression, achieve calmness and hopefulness, and strengthen resilience.

Person Centered Therapy emphasizes the therapeutic relationship of unconditional acceptance and positive regard, a non-judgmental philosophy, and empathic understanding and encouragement. These along with reflective listening and affirmation are the conditions for therapy and getting well. The humanistic therapist imagines himself/herself in the other’s place, helping the person toward self understanding and insight, replacing unhealthy thoughts and behaviors with healthy ones.

What I find particularly helpful in achieving a sense of mental wellness is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Albert Ellis, Aaron Beck, and Donald Meichenbaum). CBT emphasizes thoughts and behaviors as an explanation for how we can come to mental disorders and how we can return to well-being.

CBT helps us answer two questions: when I am stuck in thinking that is a distortion of my circumstances and downright depressing or provokes anxiety, what more rational, reasonable, and encouraging thoughts can I have and get good at through practice to feel and act better? Also, when I am stuck in behavior that is maladaptive what new behavior can I adopt and get good at through practice that will lead me to feel better and think more positively?

This evidenced-based empirically validated approach has proven itself effective for treating anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, and more. As a part of CBT Mindful Focusing or Mindfulness helps us increase our self awareness, identify and refute negative and unhelpful thoughts, and replace maladaptive behaviors. Being mindful is an action of self observation without judgement. It helps us come to know what is afflicting us is not who we are, rather something happening to us which we can choose not to be stuck with. It will take determination, courage, and practice. The reward is great: making for ourselves a happier life free to a significant extent of anxiety and depression.

Certificates/Special Training

• Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression and Anxiety
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Understanding and Treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Mindfulness and Relaxation Training

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

• Academy of Certified Social Workers
• National Certified Counselor

PsyCare Office(s) Served

• Howland