Dr. Devon E. Whitehead
Dr. Devon E. Whitehead
She/Her • Ph.D., LP
Licensed Psychologist
Maple Grove • Virtual • (PSYPact Authorized)
Specialties
Mood/Depression Trauma/PTSD Sexuality + LGBTQ Affirming Relationships Neurodivergence Grief & Loss Chronic Illness
Ages Served
Teens Adults
Older Adults
Modalities
EMDR CBT DBT
About Me
I’m Dr. Whitehead, newer to Vayda, but have been practicing independently since 2013. I’ve worked in community mental health, larger private practices, hospital settings doing crisis work, and small private practices. I began my work with a mixture of working with children and adults, enjoying the variety that each day brought. As I’ve aged, I’ve come to focus more on later adolescence and adulthood, and now my caseload is almost exclusively adults, and most typically adults that are struggling with chronic mental health and physical health difficulties.
I love working with clients who are willing to try to do the hard things. We don’t always succeed at doing those hard things together, but we learn how to bounce back from the challenge together. Facing those dark things in our lives is never easy, and it’s my job to be sure we don’t get lost in the dark, but find our way back to the light together.
Clinical Approaches
In the office, you will find me to be practical, problem-solving, supportive, and occasionally blunt, mixed with gentle humor and a compassionate smile. I strive to be genuine in my interactions with clients and other clients have often remarked on how “real” I am in session. When it comes to skills for clients, I was trained and “raised” as a CBT therapist. I spent three years as a DBT therapist as well, and those skills are essential for clients to move through the difficult stuff.
When it comes to trauma, I have training in EMDR and often use that to help clients move through the dark parts of their lives. I appreciate the flexibility of EMDR and utilize it to help clients heal from difficult memories, big and small, that have impacted them yet today. If EMDR doesn’t feel like your thing, we can definitely continue to process traumatic events in other forms, whether that be a more narrative therapy or other pathways to healing. A lot of trauma work is learning to hold the memories without holding the feelings, and finding and making meaning out of what a person has been through.
In session, you can anticipate the ability to focus on what you want and need to focus on. If you like to take the reins, I’m happy to join wherever you lead; if you need more guidance on where to go, I can also support you by helping to guide the process. You will find me genuine, caring, and not at all a “blank slate” therapist, as my face often gives away my feelings before I say a word. I know my job often extends beyond the therapy room, and I’m happy to collaborate with providers and other essential folks as needed.
The human behind the credentials.
Outside of the office, you will often find me listening to music, parenting my hilarious and unpredictable child, loving my spouse and my cats. I have my own chronic illness, so as that allows, I enjoy going to live music events, spending time crafting, or trying new things. I enjoy watching TV and movies and shopping, and love to spend time with friends. Time with friends is often spent playing board games, seeing movies, mutually scrolling on our phones, and generally having a good time.
You will find that I am fiercely loyal and try my best to validate the difficult experiences of oppressed groups in this country. I am an advocate in particular for LGBTQIA+ individuals, as their experiences have touched my life greatly. I am anti-racist and learning about my own privilege and striving to be better every day. I proudly wear the label “social justice warrior.”
I’m not scared of the hard stuff. I’ve heard a lot of the hard stuff already, and I know that I can handle what you have been through, too. If I sound like a good fit to you, drop me a line and we can connect. I look forward to hearing from you!
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