Clinician Spotlight: Bailey McCombs, LMHC, EAT
Meet Bailey!
Bailey works with both in-person and virtual clients in our Tyngsboro location.
1.) Hi, Bailey! When did you first know you wanted to become a therapist?
For as long as I can remember I knew I wanted to work in a therapeutic capacity. When I was a teenager, I started working at a summer camp for individuals with special needs which solidified that desire. I was seeing the positive impact on the individuals and their family members after a week of strength-based therapeutic care and knew I wanted to find a way to provide longer term support.
2.) Where did you go to school and what was one of the highlights of your learning experience?
My undergraduate degree is from Saint John Fisher College in upstate NY. A prime highlight of that time was studying abroad in Grenoble, France. My Master's degree is from Lesley University where I really enjoyed my internships, one of which was in a Memory Care Unit.
3.) What is something you have discovered about being a therapist that perhaps you didn't realize when you first started this journey?
Prior to being a therapist I did not realize how connected many agencies and practices are. It is interesting to see how many people I have worked with in other capacities that I now work with, or around as an outpatient therapist.
4.) What are some of your most go-to approaches, interventions or skills?
A main approach I use is Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART). This intervention allows me to provide coaching for families and explore what sensory inputs will help their children in staying regulated, as well as to help the children with body awareness and understanding how their emotions tie into movement. I also use a variety of non-verbal interventions (art, writing, and visual aids) to facilitate communication between myself and clients as well as between clients and their families.
5.) What is one of the more challenging things about being in this field?
A difficult part of being in this field is the lack of access for everyone who wants to have services. It can be heartbreaking to know that there are people and families who are seeking support, but they may not have the insurance, or ability to fund their needs.
6.) Which themes/topics interest you when considering continuing education in the near future?
I am very interested in EMDR and deepening my understanding of processing trauma in new ways.
"Brain on Fire" by Susan Cahalan is an incredible true story about a neurological disorder.
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