Claire Poneman, LMSW
Many people arrive at therapy carrying quiet battles—conflicts with their bodies, relationships, or the changes life keeps throwing their way. My work centers on helping you understand those patterns that weigh you down and reconnect with a clearer, kinder sense of yourself. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply ready for something to shift, you’re in the right place.
I provide a grounded, compassionate space for clients to untangle the emotional knots that keep them feeling stuck. Drawing from a psychodynamic, trauma-informed approach, I help people understand the deeper patterns behind their struggles so they can move toward lasting change with more clarity, confidence, and self-trust.
What makes High-quality Mental Healthcare?
High-quality mental healthcare encompasses a range of factors and principles that aim to provide effective, compassionate, and comprehensive support to individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Here are some critical components of high-quality mental healthcare:
Accessibility: High-quality mental healthcare should be easily accessible to those in need. This includes considerations of geographical accessibility, affordability, and availability of services. Reducing barriers to access, such as stigma, cost, and wait times, is crucial.
Evidence-Based Treatment: Treatment modalities and interventions should be based on the best available scientific evidence. This means that mental healthcare providers should use therapies and interventions demonstrated to be effective through rigorous research.
Person-Centered Care: Care should be tailored to the individual's needs, preferences, and goals. It should involve a collaborative and empathetic approach where the person seeking care is actively involved in decisions about their treatment.
Multidisciplinary Approach: Mental healthcare often requires a team-based approach involving professionals from various disciplines, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and nurses, working together to address the individual's needs comprehensively.
Continuity of Care: High-quality mental healthcare should provide continuity of care, meaning that individuals receive ongoing support and follow-up to ensure that their mental health needs are consistently addressed.
Cultural Competence: Mental healthcare providers should be culturally competent and sensitive to the diverse backgrounds and identities of their patients. They should be able to provide care that is respectful and relevant to the individual's cultural context.
Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding and addressing the potential impact of trauma is essential in mental healthcare. Providers should be trained in trauma-informed care to create a safe and supportive environment for individuals who have experienced trauma.
Respect for Autonomy and Informed Consent: Individuals should have the right to make decisions about their treatment and be provided with adequate information to give informed consent. This includes discussing the risks, benefits, and alternatives to different treatment options.
Outcome Measurement and Monitoring: High-quality mental healthcare often involves regularly assessing treatment progress and outcomes. This helps providers and individuals track progress and make adjustments as needed.
Privacy and Confidentiality: Mental healthcare providers must uphold strict standards of privacy and confidentiality to create a safe and trusting environment for their patients.
Recovery-Oriented Approach: Mental healthcare should focus on supporting individuals in their journey toward recovery and wellness rather than simply managing symptoms.
Prevention and Early Intervention: Effective mental healthcare should include strategies for prevention and early intervention to identify and address mental health issues before they become more severe.
Accountability and Quality Improvement: Healthcare organizations should have mechanisms to monitor and continuously improve the quality of their mental healthcare services.
Education and Training: Mental healthcare providers should undergo rigorous education and training to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to provide high-quality care.
Integration with Physical Health Care: Integrating mental healthcare with primary care and other healthcare services can improve overall health outcomes for individuals with mental health conditions.
In summary, high-quality mental healthcare should be accessible, evidence-based, person-centered, culturally competent, and provided by a multidisciplinary team focusing on individualized care, recovery, and continuous improvement. It should also respect the autonomy and privacy of individuals seeking care.