Dr. Carla Groves is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the owner of Mind Your Self. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, her Master of Social Work at the University of Southern California, and a second Master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management from American Military University. She recently completed a doctorate in Behavioral Health with an emphasis on integrated health.
Her primary scope of work and research has been trauma (domestic violence, sexual assault, and PTSD, including that which is combat related), although she has successfully treated a variety of issues, including those which are military related, divorce, depression, anxiety, anger management, and a variety of mental disorders that require more intensive outpatient treatment. Her professional experience includes working with several specialized populations as well, including severely emotionally disturbed (SED) children and adolescents; the elderly (dementia and Alzheimer’s focus, along with supportive care and hospice); and dual diagnosis individuals with severe and persistent mental illness along with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities. She has worked extensively with transitioning military personnel, Veterans, and their families; individuals transitioning from prison, parole and probation; and those working with chronic disease management. In 2021, Carla will focus heavily on developing and running health and wellness programs that will run concurrently at Mind Your Self and with existing partnerships throughout the city.
Her work is client-centered; she works with the client on goals that the client helps establish, with a variety of treatment modalities best suited to the individual’s strengths and preferences. Her goal is to get you to the best place you can be in and to help you find and maintain some inner peace. Her treatment methods are based on each client’s needs, preferences, and strengths and are focused on building awareness, mindfulness, and success in attaining each client’s individual goals, whatever those may be.
Carla has been trained in:
- Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
- Cognitive Processing therapy (CPT)
- Rational Emotive Behavioral therapy (REBT)
- Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE)
- Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT)
Carla’s treatment is generally integrated, with elements of several of these treatment modalities combined.
In addition to therapy, Carla offers transformational life coaching for those that want to grow to become who they were created to be. Carla can help you align your life with your deepest and most important values and learn to recognize your passions so you can live the purposeful, meaningful, significant life you were meant to live.
Carla also offers career counseling for those that want to reach their maximum potential. She is a mentor with the John Maxwell team and teaches, speaks, and coaches leadership skills to all ages.
Carla is a Texas approved supervisor for those individuals looking to move from their LMSW licensing to LCSW. She also mentors several graduate students as they begin their journey in the profession of mental health.
Carla has experience teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses and has recently taught graduate courses as an adjunct lecturer for the University of Texas, San Antonio’s graduate school of social work.
Carla is a Gold Star wife and identifies heavily with Veterans and their families. She has previously served on the Executive Boards of two other non-profits, including the Alaska chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
