New to Grow
As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for over 20 years, my passion is helping my clients discover their strengths, learn new skills, and empower them with evidence-based, practical tools that create lasting personal growth and change. As a lifelong learner, I attend trainings and expand my knowledge through professional literature so that I can bring cutting-edge insights directly into my practice. I have recently been certified as a Clinical Trauma Specialist and am incorporating these techniques (polyvalgal theory and somatic therapy) with my clients who have experienced complex PTSD and trauma. I also utilize CBT and the Gottman Method when working with couples and I am committed to supporting my couples to reach their relationship potential. My goal is to help all of my clients attain their personal goals and graduate from therapy in a timely manner. I maintain a structured, goal-oriented approach that maximizes our sessions together.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
Together, we will identify your challenges and goals - where you want your life to be a month, six months, a year from now. Then, we'll identify options and strategies you can use to get there. You'll leave the session with a better understanding of what you're facing with an "actions I can take right now" approach. All of my clients are unique individuals, and I want them to feel comfortable working with the tools and techniques that I share with them. I always say to use the tools that resonate with them and leave the rest. There will always be room for suggestions concerning our work together, including keeping each other accountable and goal-oriented to maximize our progress in our sessions.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
Drawing from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, positive psychology, and somatic and polyvagal therapy that have researched to help, I guide my clients who are weighed down by life stressors, anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment, and relationship struggles and empower them with the tools that can change their lives. I have found over the last 20 years that these approaches help in a more expedient manner.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My clients are committed and motivated individuals who are genuinely committed to personal growth, change, and transforming their lives.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I’ve been utilizing CBT in my practice for the past 20 years. It’s helped many of my clients challenge negative thoughts and manage their anxiety and/or depression. We’ll use CBT to learn to identify your own thought patterns and to challenge them. When you use that knowledge to change your thinking patterns, this will help you lead a more relaxed and less stressful life.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I have been incorporating mindfulness-based therapy in my practice for many years, as I have found that it is an evidence-based approach that is effective in helping break free from thought patterns that contribute to depression and anxiety. Mindfulness helps recognize and interrupt the automatic connection between negative thinking and shift judgmental thinking to learning how to be present in the moment and appreciate the simple pleasures of everyday life, thereby reconnecting with yourself and decreasing stress and worry.
Gottman method
I have also been utilizing The Gottman Method within my couples therapy as it is an evidence-based couples therapy approach based on over 40 years of research and has been tested on more than 3000 couples. Gottman’s model aims to reduce conflicts and promote intimacy, respect and affection among couples by eliminating stuckness in the relationship. Another aim of this approach is to create an atmosphere of empathy and understanding in the relationship. It views conflict as a normal part of every relationship and focuses on empowering couples with conflict management skills. In fact, conflicts occur in all relationships, but how couples handle these conflicts ultimately decides the fate of relationships. I start the first session with my couples by assessing the couple’s issues and needs before designing a comprehensive treatment plan to improve the couple’s communication, intimacy and conflict-resolution skills.