Paul C. Briggs, LCSW, LICSW, SEP, BC-TMH
Throughout my career, beginning in my late teen years, I became actively involved in a steady variety of volunteer work within my community, helping others. I soon realized that I held a passion for working with people. After a 13-year career in industry working as an engineer, I returned to school in South Florida and earned my Master of Social Work degree at Barry University in 1996. Recognizing that our body actively participates in all of our life experiences and is not there simply to carry our head around, I completed my Massage Therapy Certification at Lindsey Hopkins Technical Education Center in Miami, Florida in 2001 and became a Licensed Massage Therapist. As I continued to work with more people in therapy, I learned about a novel approach that I could use to bridge these two disciplines, and I became a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner in 2015. I can assist people living in the United States in Florida, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and internationally.
For over 30 years I have worked with people within adolescent, adult, and elder populations who are struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, gender dysphoria, mood disorders, substance use disorders, grief and loss, and chronic pain and illness. Integrating multiple approaches, I provide support and psychoeducation about the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); introduce aspects and tools of mindfulness; and assist with developing and increasing knowledge regarding felt senses and further awareness of how the body participates in recognizing and managing symptoms through somatically based interventions. My goal is to create an environment and hold a safe space where people can feel supported as they journey on their path to better health.
I provide a specialization in holistic mental health care for folks in the LGBTQIA+ and gender fluid community in the areas of gender identity, coming out, transitioning, and gender affirming HRT and surgery support. An additional specialty includes working with military veterans from all eras and their families. I am a current member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Gay Lesbian Medical Association, a member of The United States Association for Body Psychotherapy and a member of the European Association for Body Psychotherapy.
Thank you for allowing me to work with you.
