LPCC, 25 years of experience
New to Grow
I have been licensed as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor since 2004, and have held a supervision designation since 2015. I have also held a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor with a supervision/training designation license since 2018. I have maintained a private counseling practice in Chillicothe since 2000, and I continue to work with individuals and families in that capacity. I have dedicated my career to helping others and to working with the community to ensure the well-being of families and children. My most common theoretical approaches are Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Christian Therapy, but I am proud to be able to use a multitude of approaches, dependent on what works best for the client(s) involved. I value the individual and the couple regardless of age or philosophical approach to their life or relationship. I see my goal of treatment as improving the individual or couple to be the best they want to be. My communication tone or approach tends to be direct but laid back. We are in session to work together, not have me tell you what to do or where you need to go.
Our first session will involve getting to know each other and reaching a comfort level that will enable to us to trust the process and have faith in each others approach to success. We start with where the client wants to go, where they want to be in a year, two years, etc., then we set intermediate and global goals to get us there. Let's get to know each other, find out why you are here, and how I can help.
I have always felt the calling to help others and to delve into the how and why of communication, relationships, and psychological, physiological triggers. I am here because I want to help. I want to work together to achieve success.
I work best with clients who are committed to the process of change. That is they want to accomplish goals and objectives in our journey together. They are not necessarily looking for improvement but have goals in mind and are willing to work together to achieve success.
CBT is built on the idea that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. 1. Identify Negative Thoughts: You learn to recognize and challenge unhelpful, irrational, or negative thought patterns and beliefs. 2. Change Thoughts: By changing distorted thoughts, you can alter your perceptions and develop more rational self-talk. 3. Modify Behaviors: This change in thinking helps you modify unhelpful behaviors and develop more effective coping strategies. 4. Improve Emotional State: By changing thoughts and behaviors, you can improve your mood and your overall emotional regulation
emphasizes finding solutions to current problems rather than dwelling on past issues. It is a goal-oriented approach that encourages clients to focus on their strengths and envision a future where their problems are resolved.
Most couples therapy is conducted conjointly—that is, with both partners present in sessions. Seeing or contacting one member of the couple separately is occasionally warranted but almost invariably done to gain information important to the relationship and with the permission of the other. Sometimes an individual seeks couples counseling as a way to prompt a change in a troubled relationship, most commonly because their partner is unwilling to participate in therapy. The therapist is likely to ask many questions, including some about each partner’s family of origin and some that challenge an individual’s beliefs or perspective. Couples therapists do not take sides in disputes, but they may call out individual behaviors that contribute to joint problems. Relational science has firmly established that both partners play a role in most couple problems. Therapy usually aims at bringing partners closer together or ending a partnership intelligently. In the process of resolving dilemmas, partners learn to have compassion for their partner and themselves, learn ways of constructively managing their own negative feelings, and rekindle the feelings that originally attracted them to each other. Between sessions, couples are typically asked to practice at home the insights, behaviors, and problem-solving skills they gain in therapy.
Mindfulness is the practice of purposefully bringing awareness to the present moment and observing thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment. It involves paying attention to what is happening right now, whether it's the food you are eating or the air around you, and recognizing thoughts and feelings as transient mental events rather than trying to control them. Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress, improve focus, and offer a sense of calm by activating the body's relaxation response.
The primary goal of person-centered therapy is to foster the client's self-acceptance, self-esteem, and personal growth, leading to greater independence and integration of the individual. Therapists achieve this by creating a non-judgmental, empathetic, and supportive environment where the client feels safe to explore their thoughts and feelings, ultimately becoming their own best "therapist" by learning to cope with present and future problems in a more integrated way.