Mina Kirkova, LCSW-C
Child, Adolescent, and Family Therapist
in Phoenix/Jacksonville, MD
ABOUT ME
I am a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C*). I was trained as a Child, Adolescent, and Family Therapist at a top residential treatment facility (Jasper Mountain Center, Oregon) where I specialized in the treatment of emotionally disturbed children with severe behavior problems. I also have extensive experience in working with college students and adult patients struggling with anxiety disorders, phobias, chronic pain, grief & loss, life transitions, relationship issues, career difficulties, etc.
*LCSW-C clinicians have an advanced academic degree and at least two years of supervised clinical work experience. Also, LCSW-C practitioners have passed a national licensing exam and hold a clinical license.
My Success Story
I came to study in the US on a full four-year college scholarship when I was 17. I left my family 10,000 miles away, in Bulgaria. I graduated with honors from a top private college (Linfield, OR) and later completed two Masters degrees with a 4.0 GPA.
Education
- MSW (Masters of Social Work), Portland State University, OR
- MA (International Studies), University of Oregon, OR
- BA (Sociology and Anthropology), Linfield College, OR
- AA (International Studies and Russian), Ricks College, ID
My Family
My husband is a music theory Professor at Towson University. We have two wonderful home-schooled children. Our extended families live in our home country, Bulgaria (Eastern Europe). Every summer we go to the beautiful island of Kauai where we love swimming with Hawaiian green sea turtles, kayaking, chasing double rainbows, and snorkeling in the coral reefs.
My Magical Pet Therapy Helpers
Below you will see some adorable pictures of my "animal therapy helpers.” They seem to be truly magical at assisting me resolve children's anger, oppositional defiance, anxiety, depression, and animal phobia issues both during in person and teletherapy sessions.
My magical helpers also “teach” kids meditation, relaxation, mindfulness, and breathing techniques. They are also quite inspirational at teaching kids healthy eating habits, such as drinking kale and spinach smoothies and "eating the rainbow," daily eating of a wide range of fruits and vegetables. About every few months, I usually have a new litter of Holland Lop baby bunnies, who quickly become an inseparable part of my daily therapy sessions. My bunnies often visit the homes of the children I work with in therapy as a reward for achieving their “bunny chart” weekly therapeutic goals.
Mina Kirkova, LCSW-C
Child, Adolescent, and Family Therapist in Phoenix, MD
