Our Mission

Thoughtprint Consulting specializes in working with people who have mild to moderate medical and mental health conditions and want to live safely and comfortably in their own homes.  We are committed to:

Keeping seniors independent and in their own homes by providing psycho-social assessments, home safety and self care recommendations for aging in-place.

Providing information and counseling to seniors, their family members and friends when making important decisions about care-giving, housing alternatives, and identifying helpful services in the community.

Building and maintaining healthy individuals, couples and families by helping them to communicate well, cope with grief due to loss, navigate difficult transitions, strengthening their identification of values and beliefs and successfully resolving everyday life challenges.

 services

Thoughtprint Consulting provides therapy and consultation to individuals and families by helping them learn new ways of coping with both voluntary and circumstantial changes encountered in daily living.  We provide education on mental health issues, and the challenges associated with adapting to change.  We believe regardless of age, that physical, emotional, and spiritual health is important and when possible should be addressed within the context of an individual's relationships, cultural, and religious values, life goals and objectives.

 INDIVIDUAL THERAPY in a confidential setting to strengthen and enhance self-awareness and resolve obstacles to emotional wellness in relationships and work.  You may be unsure of the exact nature, concern or how to name it, but we can help identify issues you face and recommend a path forward.  We will help you navigate through life transitions and particular areas, including the following:  Depression, Loneliness, Relationships, Anxiety, Identity Issues, Legacy planning, Grief and Loss, Co-dependency, Chronic illness, and Caring for Ailing Parents.

FAMILY THERAPY to reduce conflict and improve how family members resolve differences. To understand the factors that keep families from relating effectively and to adopt new ways of interacting.  We provide a safe place for processing topics that families encounter, including the following:  Blended Families, Anxiety, Depression, Separation and Divorce,  Emotional Intimacy,  Boundaries, Discipline, Grief and Bereavement,  Sexual Identity,  Communication,  Mental Illness, and its Effect on Families.

 CONSULTATION AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION for Advanced Care Planning at the end of life begins with a conversation about values and preparing for future decisions about your medical care should you become seriously ill or unable to communicate your wishes. We will help you plan your Advanced Directive and learn about preparing a Living Will. We can help you identify caregiver support and define treatment preferences that align with your values. Lastly, we accept Speaking Requests from community groups and organizations on various topics around death education and the importance of maintaining spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness as an advocate for critical decision-making with intention and compassion.

Geriatric Care Consultation

If you are looking for expert assistance in caring for a family member, friend, or yourself, Thoughtprint Consulting will partner  with you to help you make the best decisions and deliver the best solutions for you and your loved one as they age. It’s a holistic approach – that respects your values, preferences, and resources.

A geriatric care consultant helps organize an elderly loved one’s total care needs and connects them with resources that might be useful for their situation. After conducting a needs assessment,  we will help you to create a personalized plan that includes the medical, legal, and financial components necessary for that person's care.

We can assist you or your loved one with identifying:

• In-home caregivers

• Adult day care facilities

• Assisted living facilities

• Nursing homes

• Transportation options

In addition, we can also help educate the senior or the family about:

• Private insurance

• Medicare

• Legal issues

• Appropriate medical resources

• Financial matters

Selecting a care consultant is an important and time-consuming task; however, the right person can ease many of a senior's worries and alleviate many family concerns.  The goal of  care consultation is for individuals to achieve an optimal level of wellness and improve coordination of care which is cost-effective.

sterling hawkins, MSW, LICSW, LCSW-C

EXECUTIVE  DIRECTOR  & OWNER
Board Certified Diplomate #27753  (American  Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work)

Academy of Certified Social Workers #884159344

MD License #08720  |  DC License #LC302367

Phone:  202-469-1077

Sterling Hawkins is a Master’s level licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been a practitioner since 1989 and in part-time private practice since 2011. He holds licenses in the District of Columbia and Maryland.  His underlying philosophy and orientation come from working with seniors and their families as a social work case manager in hospital acute care and home health care settings by providing functional assessments, identifying federal, state and community resources and performing individual, family, and group therapy for those who suffer with mild cognitive impairment and adjustment issues related to transition and loss,  Sterling creates a supportive environment of empathy, trust, confidence and success when working with his clients.

EDUCATION

Certificate in The Care of Older Adults, George Washington University, District of Columbia, 2016

M.S.W. (Master of Social Work),  Florida State University  1989

B.A. in Sociology, Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL  1986

Certificate in Intercultural Ministries,  Moody Bible Institute,  Chicago, IL 1983

Sterling regularly attends workshops, seminars and conferences to stay current with  research, theories and therapeutic techniques.

MEMBERSHIPS

Greater Washington Society For Clinical Social Work (GWSCSW)

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

VOLUNTEER BOARD AND PARTICIPANT EXPERIENCE

So Others Might Eat- (SOME) Volunteer 2016- 2018

DC VA Medical Center Executive Committee Board-  2009 - 2011

Veterans Administration VISN 5 Social Work Professional Standards Board- 2009 - 2010

Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work Referral Panel-  2001- 2005

Pro-Bono Counseling Project  Participant– 2003 - 2004

Capital Association of Diabetes Educators  Board Member- 2002 - 2006

CVS Health Connection – Advisory Board Member -2001 - 2002

EXPERIENCE

Since 1989 Sterling has worked in a variety of settings.  His primary experience was established in Acute Care Medicine and Home Based Primary Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, DC where he worked with aging veterans and their families to educate and provide behavioral health services.  Preceding his work with the  VA,  he worked in private-sector Home Health;  Inpatient Mental Health; and as an Independent Contractor for a regional behavioral health group, and lastly as a past Behavioral Consultant for the Maryland Department of Social Services Medicaid Waiver Program for at-risk seniors.  Sterling maintains a part-time practice Thoughtprint Consulting, LLC.  Sterling has worked with hundreds of individuals and families in the Greater Washington Area, by helping them obtain in-home care, identify alternative housing, resolve caregiver- burden, address: health management concerns, depression, anxiety, work-life balance,  grief and past trauma.

THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES USED

Sterling uses an eclectic mix of therapeutic techniques depending on the situation or problem with which the client or family presents. These techniques include psychodynamic approaches, cognitive-behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, emotionally-focused therapy ,  journaling, photo-therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, relaxation and mindfulness techniques.  These methods work well together to help clients establish stability, develop healthy relationships, and manage difficult emotions.

My Story

Growing up as a child, I found myself in the middle of aging family dramas surrounding health care crises, and listening to adult conversations from grandparents to aunts and uncles, and eventually my parents discussing topics related to chronic and terminal illness, home care, nursing home placement, and death. These conversations usually evolved into inquiry and contemplation over what to do, how to do it, when to do it, and who could help. The answers to these questions and their subsequent outcomes over the years had a profound impact on me as I grew into adulthood, listening and observing, both directly and indirectly, to what others were saying. As I observed family caregivers and health care providers, I soon learned that navigating the complexities of aging, accompanied by illness, including death, was a world that I wanted to explore and do some good. Therefore, I didn’t shy away from those opportunities. I studied and learned through both professional and personal experiences, and have concluded that ending life well means everything. I wish to share the lessons I have learned, both as a healthcare practitioner and a family caregiver, which are essential to navigating life’s journey well and leaving a lasting legacy.

T E S T I M O N I A L S

“ It is an honor and privilege to work with you. I appreciate your compassion, ethics, and willingness to always help anyone; your quiet manner is soothing to all you meet. Loved working with you.” --Cathy

“You were present in my father’s life every day since you met him. From the time you took on his case, to the phone calls, greasing the wheels of the machine behind the scenes, with your caring and compassion, and respect, and dignity which you graciously shared with him and all of us. Your quiet determination and advocacy enabled us to keep my father at home until the end. Your empathy gave me strength. Your support and skill literally made his life possible.” —Francine B.

“Thank you so much for coming to be with us during our very sad time. In addition, I just want you to know how grateful me and my family will always be for all your help. Because of you and your team, I was able to keep my father at home. And that was my goal.” --The Rose Family

“Thank you so very much for your help in getting assistance for my brother. There’s now someone going into the home 2 times a week to help out.” --L. Mathis