I am a Pennsylvania Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I have been in the counseling field for over 15 years, working with, teens, young adults and the elderly, who have issues ranging from anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD and Autism (ASD). I have also done extensive work with individuals and couples going through transitions and relationship issues. I also bring experience in the area of pastoral and spiritual counseling that many times is helpful to one’s mental health. I hold an MA in Theology and a Master’s degree in Divinity from Christ the King Seminary. I also hold an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from LaSalle University. I've been teaching teaching undergraduate courses in philosophy, theology and psychology at Gwynedd Mercy University as well s Holy Family University over the past 15 years. I bring to the counseling profession a wide variety of experiences, such as working in construction, high school teaching, high school coaching, youth ministry, college teaching, as well as over 20 years of experience in the corporate world. I am compassionate about helping people and try to gently guide them through life’s difficulties and obstacles that may impede their mental well-being and happiness. I'm approachable, relatable and have a deep desire to help others. I do enjoy my family, as well as writing, running and music when not helping others in the counseling field.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Clients can expect from me an honest, relatable therapist who is concerned about their mental and emotional well being. We all get stuck at times in life and need a professional who will help them get through the these difficult times. I always take clients where they are and not where I think they should be. So, with gentle guidance and nurturing within the context of a solid therapeutic relationship, I encourage self awareness, growth and management of the problems that may be holding them back at this point in their life.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
The treatment methods that I have effectively used with my clients are first and foremost, doing a genogram to learn about one's family system. I find this an important tool since we all are products of families, which can reveal a lot about some of our learned behavior and insights into some of our vulnerabilities, as well as how we've been taught to handle many of life's issues. I also use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is an evidenced based approach to many mental and emotional issues. I also use a variety of other effective tools, such as Narrative Therapy, Solution focused Therapy and Behavioral Modification. If needed, I can also help with any spiritual or religious struggles a person might be experiencing.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My biggest strengths that I bring to the therapy session is, not only my educational and theoretical background, but also a wide variety of life experiences. I come from a large family and have worked at a variety of jobs, such as being a high school teacher, a coach, a college professor, a business owner and a corporate executive, on top of having over 17 years of counseling experience. I work well with individuals who suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, as well as working with couples who struggle with their relationships. I also have worked with individuals who are just stuck in life, whether with their goals, jobs, relationships and the pursuit of happiness. My preference is to work with people from ages 18 to 80.