Patria Weston-Lee, LCSW

About

Patria was born and raised in Northern California and came to Hawaii right out of high school to attend BYU-Hawaii, where she completed her undergraduate Social Work degree with a practicum in Suva, Fiji. She obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University in New York City. She has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Hawaii since 2008. She has worked in various non-profit settings in Hawaii over the years, including Consuelo Foundation, Lili’uokalani Trust, Kids Hurt Too Hawaii, and the Sex Abuse Treatment Center. She is passionate about the interconnected ways our generational, social, educational, economic, natural resources and other systems impact our health and well-being.

With over 12 years of experience supporting a diverse population of clients, including young children, teens, and adults, she values providing nonjudgmental, confidential space and helping to create some of the conditions needed for healing. She has the training to support people overcoming a history of sexual assault. She is also working towards AASECT certification as a sex therapist. This includes training to address sexual health concerns that arise, including important considerations such as a religious faith context, people who are managing chronic illness, or supporting LGBTQ+ clients. Patria has professional experience supporting families who are dealing with the foster care system and children who are grieving loss and separation from parents. She can provide support around anxiety, depression, and a variety of behavioral concerns and parenting issues.

Patria often integrates an understanding of the nervous system with techniques to nurture the mind-body-spirit connection, such as grounding, breath work, movement, visualization, and meditation. These skills become helpful supports in confronting avoidance or processing trauma. She follows the client's lead and will not push someone to talk about anything before they feel ready. 

Treatment Modalities

• Narrative Therapy (explores the stories people develop and carry in their life)
• Play and Art Therapy (hands-on, creative processing techniques)
• Solution Focused Short Term Therapy (focus on strengths and resources to create solutions)
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (facilitates coping and sense of well-being through deep awareness)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (emphasizes the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (teaches skills to manage painful emotions)
• Prolonged Exposure Therapy (method to confront feared situations, might be used for OCD or PTSD)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR is an evidence-based trauma treatment)

Patria’s overall approach maintains a holistic perspective and attunement to culture. She is guided by the belief that people have the power to find the best solutions for themselves and that healing comes through a variety of essential connections.

Education

• Master of Social Work | Columbia University