A little about me....
My love for Psychology began after taking my first Psychology class in college. I felt called to be in this field. I also discovered that I love the brain! The brain is amazing. Since that first class, so much information about how the brain works and heals itself has been learned (given the right tools...insert Psychology, Neuroscience, and Neuroplasticity). I have worked in various settings over the course of my life's work. I began this journey working at an adolescent girls group home as a behavior specialist tech. From there I moved on to working in a nursing home setting, where I administered mental health assessments to residents with a mental health diagnosis. I then made my way to the community mental health setting where I started as a child and adolescent therapist. This is where I realized that I was pretty good at building rapport and trust with kids and teens. I took that gift and experience and ventured into the world of elementary school counseling. (This is where I say God bless teachers and school counselors). While I did this for a few years, I knew this wasn't where I needed to be. In college, I had interned at a group home for adults with Intellectual Disabilities. I returned as their behavior intervention specialist. I encourage everyone to spend time with such a beautiful group of people. I eventually made my way back to community mental health and expanded my client base to adults including, emerging adults to aging adults. In the many years servicing clients ages 3-84 years of age, not only did I gain valuable knowledge, I gained a passion to help those in need.
Sprinkled throughout all of the amazing employment opportunities that I was fortunate to have, I was able to stay home with my kids. This is my most gratifying and fulfilling part of my life. I loved being a stay at home mom where I was able to not only be involved and engaged but was also able to be ever present. I will always be thankful for a husband who provided for our family so that I could spend those few years at home. I am most thankful for having instilled in me the value of hard work and servicing others by my dad and compassion for those in need by my mom. Both of my brothers and myself are truly blessed to have amazing parents.
So back to the present....I recently decided to broaden my horizons and step way out of my comfort zone. I left community mental health after seven years and decided to open my own private practice. And here I am...hoping to help bring balance, joy, hope, peace, and wholeness to those who feel broken, lost, or just need direction.
My Treatment Approach
I believe that every person is unique and deserves individualized treatment. No one therapy method works for everyone. I use a person centered, integrated approach to counseling and help each person that I see use their own strengths throughout the counseling process. In addition, I hold strong in the belief that the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important aspects of therapy and it often gets overlooked. My work with you will be to build a positive, trusting, non-judgmental therapeutic relationship in which we can work together through whatever difficulties you may be facing. I am dedicated to utilizing a holistic, integrated approach that values what is significant to you and will seek to be genuinely compassionate to where you may emotionally and spiritually be. Having a good rapport and trust in your therapist can make therapy much more beneficial and productive. Part of this relationship is honesty and transparency on my part.
My counseling approach, operating from a biblical worldview, involves providing a safe, supportive, warm and encouraging environment. My role as a therapist, I believe is to meet you where you are, and help you to transition to where you want to be, by demonstrating understanding, patience, and unconditional positive regard. I strive to be open, honest, and fair. I will disclose that personally I am a Christian and have a strong faith in God. My office is a non judgmental space where everyone is treated equally with respect, kindness, and empathy. Reaching out for help is a courageous, important step towards your path to healing and wholeness.
If you feel as though you could benefit from counseling, please contact me.