Therapist Spotlight: Tiffany Todd

Tiffany Todd is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) who received her Bachelors and Masters of Social Work at University of Texas Arlington. Tiffany draws from a diverse range of therapeutic interventions and techniques to best meet the needs of each individual. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Psychodynamic psychotherapy, and EMDR. 

Tiffany has a passion for helping individuals with anxiety and strong emotions to increase their emotional regulation and distress tolerance. She has worked with diverse populations including adolescents, disabled young adults, and adults of all ages. Tiffany has spent the last year and a half working with male veterans both individually and in group settings. 

InnerVoice: What can potential clients expect when working with you?

Tiffany: The true beauty of being human is the uniqueness of each individual. Each person comes at life with a different view based on their complex personal experiences. People cope with the world in an endless variety of ways, and what is healthy for one may be toxic for another. I partner with my clients to navigate whichever of life’s challenges they may be facing. I believe you are the expert on you. I tailor how we approach therapy to individual needs.

InnerVoice: What are your areas of expertise and some things we should know about them?

Tiffany: I feel passionately about helping people who struggle with emotional regulation. I come from a family of highly sensitive people and the awareness of how much pain and struggle can come from strong emotions inspired me to learn how to help others. Strong emotions can look like anxiety, anger, struggling to get out of bed, absence of emotion, worry, the list goes on and on. 

Men’s mental health! According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), men are less likely to seek mental health treatment than women. Men complete suicide 3.88 times more often than women. Also, 1 in 10 men experience some form of depression. After working with male veterans for a year and a half, I could see the need for understanding mental health concerns unique to men. 

Men often suffer in silence after a lifetime of being told to be tough, to “be a man,” that emotions equal weakness. Men are told they should be self-sufficient and in control of their lives. So it can be hard for men to seek out therapy, even if they want help. Men may also worry that they won’t be understood, or that therapy won’t speak to their needs. 

But a man’s emotional landscape is every bit as complex as a woman’s, and I am genuinely curious about their perspective. Therapy isn’t about giving up control—it’s often about gaining more control over our lives. The client sets our agenda, so therapy can be whatever they need it to be. 

InnerVoice: What do you like most about being a therapist? 

Tiffany: The issues people bring to therapy are often difficult, sometimes the cause of great pain. To heal themselves, clients trust me with a glimpse into their unique internal world. It is an honor to witness another person’s journey and help them along their way.

InnerVoice: What would you tell someone considering therapy for the first time?

Tiffany: . Therapy is about you, your goals, your needs, your hopes, your dreams. It requires a personal investment, and sometimes it’s really hard work. If your therapist isn’t understanding you right, tell them. If something they suggest isn’t working for you, tell them that too. The other thing that stands out to me is how much of the therapeutic work goes on between sessions, in the client’s head—pieces coming together, new realizations, trying new things. 

InnerVoice: What are your top five wellness and self-care strategies?

Tiffany: Connecting with nature. For years I couldn’t keep plants alive but about five years ago I resolved to learn more about plants and fell in love. My porch overflows in the summer. Putting my hands in dirt, smelling freshly cut lavender, eating fresh basil in a salad, and admiring the yellow blooms of a sturdy tomato plant help keep me grounded.

Moving the body. Whether just getting up from my desk to walk through the apartment or office on a bitterly cold day or a workout at the gym or a walk outside fully engaged with all my senses, getting out of my head and into my body centers me. 

Engaging the brain. I like to dive into a book from one of my favorite authors for the sheer pleasure of it. I value lifelong learning and feel like I’ll never be able to learn as much as I want to about the brain, my field, EVERYTHING! It’s a joy to have a continued and compelling curiosity about my profession.

Reaching out to others. Sometimes this may look like petting my dog, a chat with friends on messenger, a phone call with a family member, or a big hug from a loved one. A fresh perspective and a kind word can go a long way.

Checking in with myself. It is easy to get wrapped up in the busy doing of things and forget to gauge my emotions and feelings. Am I tired? Stressed? Sometimes, we let these things drive us when we should take time for self-care.