Clearwater Counseling, PC is so excited to welcome our newest therapist Taylar E Mason, a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner/Certified Masters Social Worker, to our team! 

Taylar received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Taylar has a passion to work alongside her clients and meet them where they are at in treatment. She has clinical experience working with children and adolescents with trauma, and their families. She also has experience working with individuals of all ages diagnosed with behavioral, chronic mental health and substance abuse disorders. 

Taylar has experience working with probation, foster care and multidisciplinary teams. She worked in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility, where she worked primarily with dually diagnosed adolescents and their families. Taylar conducted both individual and family therapy, and group therapy. She has training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Sand Tray Therapy. Taylar utilizes evidence based practices to guide her practice and to develop individualized treatment plans.

Prior to becoming a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner/Certified Masters Social Worker, Taylar worked at Friendship Home of Lincoln, a domestic violence emergency shelter and transitional housing, over a span of six years. She has also been involved in research at the Center for Children and Families at Florida Internal University in Miami, FL, where she worked primarily with adolescents diagnosed with Neurodevelopment Disorders, and Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders.

Get to know Taylar more in the Q&A below!

Q: When did you know that you wanted to pursue this career field? Why?

A: I became interested in this career field when I was 17 years old. I began volunteering at Friendship Home of Lincoln, a domestic violence shelter. I worked with the children at the shelter while mothers were in groups in the evenings. I remember my first day so vividly, it was in the fall and I was so nervous, because I didn't know what to expect. I went into the shelter and I had never felt more welcomed and I was surrounded by positive energy. During the group, a young boy was struggling behaviorally and I was so caught off guard, because I didn't know how to make it better...nothing was making it better. I left that night crying and as I got to my car I realized that I want to work with kids, especially those that come from not the best circumstances. Over the years, I went to undergrad, completed many internships, and began working at this shelter off and on for 5 years. I decided grad school was my next step, because I did not feel I was living up to my full potential with the work I was currently doing. I was once told by someone I did not need to go to grad school and that it was a waste of time. Little did they know, it was the best decision I have made for my career in this field. Becoming a therapist has been the most rewarding decision I have ever made! I'm a lifelong learner and as a therapist I am learning new therapeutic interventions each day.

Q: What makes you passionate about what you do/what do you find most rewarding?

A: Seeing a smile or cry of relief when my clients realize they are not alone. It's like you can actually see a weight being lifted off their shoulders. For the littles, it's seeing them run to me when their session is about to start, because I know they have gained some trust in me.

Q: What are your greatest milestones/achievements?

A: The biggest achievement of my undergraduate career: I was involved in research at the Center for Children and Families at Florida Internal University in Miami, FL, where I worked primarily with adolescents diagnosed with Neurodevelopment Disorders, and Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders. This program was called the Summer Treatment Program, where the kids came to an all day behavioral modification camp for an 8-week program. It was a grueling and sweaty 8 weeks in Miami, but it was so worth it. I learned that I can be successful and to value myself. I got the opportunity to work alongside some of the greatest child psychologists, which was an opportunity of a lifetime.

Q: What are your overall career goals/what do you hope to achieve through working with your clients?

A: I would like to be certified as a play therapist and become certified in many other treatment modalities. A huge goal of mine is to have my very own private practice, but that is way down the line!

I hope to continue to have a better understanding about my clients and their needs.

Q: Tell us more about your hobbies/interests or any fun facts about you?

A: Fun fact is that I played collegiate level ultimate frisbee in undergrad and traveled all over the nation to compete in tournaments! Watching Grey's Anatomy from the beginning to the end is my favorite coping skill.