Carlos encalada, LICSW
My ancestors come from Colombia, and Ecuador. Now being settled on Duwamish Territory since 2012, and originally born on land originally occupied by the Algonquian-speaking Lenape people, I feel both connection and separation from Native roots and traditions. This somehow says something about my connection to the work I do, and the work that is done in psychotherapy. We can be both connected to parts of ourselves as well as disconnected from parts unknown, hidden by time, history, and circumstance. Our experiences shape us, and yet we can become alienated from this. I believe my experience has well prepared me to be on the journey of the stewardship that being a therapist requires.
I have over a decade of experience in social services including the Peace Corps, clinical internships, crisis response, individual and family psychotherapy, and facilitating groups. I continue to develop my own self-awareness in the service of growth. Becoming aware of my own privileges, and unlearning the biases that we continue to become aware of as a society. I wish to continue to reclaim access to my own spirit and connection to my ancestry as I hope to help my client’s through their own process of healing. This work is ongoing. I've studied computer science and clinical social work, participated in meditation retreats, and trained in mindfulness-based therapies that use attention to heal the mind in the service of improved mental health. In my psychotherapy practice, I help clients use mindfulness and compassion to realign their intentions towards their values and the change they want to see in their lives and the world. I continue to become more immersed in psychoanalytic theories and techniques that make use of the relationship developed in therapy as a means to work with emotions in real-time. I have humbly witnessed my clients on their journey towards joy, redemption, and meaningful awareness of mind and body through individual, family, and group psychotherapy sessions.
Recent frames of reference
Moving from instinctual reaction to intentional response as a hallmark for stable mental health
Balancing logical, rules based thinking with open, non-cognitive, present-moment attention as a practice for moving through difficult decision-making or procrastination
Being present as powerfully and compellingly different than Doing
Using the body's senses as well as the breathe as the strongest anchors for bringing our attention back to the present moment.
Making the unconscious, conscious through active exploration of transference in psychotherapy
interests that help balance
Regular mindfulness of breath and body practices based on past meditation retreats and trainings
Training, playing, and singing Capoeira Angola
The Ancient Game of Go
Bicycle Riding
Graphic Design and UX
Open Dialogue
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Alumni: MIT, Smith College School for Social Work
Employers: Consejo Counseling & Referral Service, MIT, University of Chicago, Peace Corps
Internships: Drexel University School of Medicine, Windhorse Integrative Mental Health
Affiliations: Seattle Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, National Association of Social Workers