Hello! I am an LPC-MHSP residing in Tennessee. I became involved in working with both teens and adults who have been abused or traumatized after seeing how much it can impact their lives. I see strengths in all of my clients and I work with them to recognize them, and how they can use their strengths to help them move forward and achieve their dreams without allowing past trauma, anxiety, abuse or other symptoms to prevent them from doing so.
During my first session with you, I find it helpful to introduce ourselves and I would encourage you to share what you feel comfortable discussing about your life, your dreams, your goals, and what you feel you need help with. I want you to feel comfortable and to work at your own pace so that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve while we break down any barriers to your doing that! I also want you to know that you may ask me any questions about myself that will help you to know a bit about me.
I am a warm, giving, empathetic person who has experienced some of my own challenges; this is what led me to become a therapist. I have worked with clients in setting goals as it pertains to surviving and moving past trauma, anxiety, abuse, and fear of abandonment, along with mood symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. I will teach you how to advocate for your mental health needs, will teach you coping skills to manage symptoms, and will aid you in achieving the goals that we will work together to develop. I have a deep empathy and a great fondness for those I serve and enjoy watching my clients grow at their own pace.
This is my favorite treatment method because it enables me to help clients recognize and work to change irrational beliefs and assumptions they hold about themselves. It serves as a foundation to aid clients in developing more self-confidence, learning how to use coping skills to manage symptoms and, most of all, to increase self-awareness as it relates to positive attributes, problem-solving skills, and a belief in themselves. Included are easy to use but very effective ways to challenge long-held beliefs and to learn to recognize irrational beliefs and assumptions they may hold about themselves. I find this approach very effective when dealing with those who have experienced trauma, abuse, abandonment issues, and relationship challenges.
This approach works so effectively with traumatized individuals, it helps them recognize irrational belief systems, assumptions they have made about themselves, and I find that challenging such beliefs and assumptions and presenting alternative perspectives about their experiences and responses is quite effective and leads to real growth and recovery!