Hey there! I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) within the state of Virginia who has been practicing within the mental health field for a little over a decade. I received both my bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Lynchburg. I am a certified trauma specialist and I aim to assist my clients with working through their life stressors, past emotionally impactful experiences, and ways to improve their overall well-being- not just improving the mental and emotional aspects of themselves.
Upon meeting for the first time, I take the time to get to know my patient from many different angles. The first session will include my asking a number of different open-ended questions to gain a better understanding of who you are, what experiences you have had within your life, how you feel you are doing mentally/emotionally, and the things you feel you would like to improve upon in order to gain more satisfaction out of your life. We will then talk about goals for therapy- what skills do you wish to learn, what experiences do you wish to gain clarity on or heal from, and ways you feel you can improve your life and well-being.
I feel as though I am both an empathetic and empathic person which lends well to assisting my clients with processing through the challenges of life. I frequently use humor within session as I feel laughter is often life's best medicine. I feel it is important to meet the patient where they are and walk with them through the journey. We are a team- you're in the driver's seat of our driver's education car...you're in control of the car but every now and then I may guide you down a new path to gain different perspectives.
Within session, we will engage within dialogue regarding your world view and perspective. We will discuss specific scenarios where you feel your thoughts impacted your emotions which then impacted your behaviors/responses. Additionally, I may provide you with "homework" in the form of therapeutic worksheets that allow for development of thought challenging/reframing/stopping skills outside of our sessions.
Throughout our time together, I will engage you within dialogue regarding what you feel makes up your cultural identity and how you feel that cultural identity does or does not impact how you view and/or interact with the world.
Psychoeducation is something I use frequently within sessions. Psychoeducation can occur via information being provided verbally about specific topics or in the form of therapeutic worksheets. Additionally, I frequently use the mind-body approach within therapy. The mind-body approach can be seen as the way our mental health impacts our physical health and vice versa. Oftentimes during processing within session, I will ask you to reflect on how you feel emotionally, mentally, and also physically to determine if there are any connections between them.
I utilize a person-centered approach to therapy with all of my patients. Meaning, each patient is seen as an individual human being with unique life experiences and personality characteristics. Each patient receives tailored treatment to fit their needs and unique qualities.
I specialize within treating trauma and related disorders. I consistently utilize trauma informed care within sessions to ensure the patient feels heard, validated, and supported. Trauma informed care is unique to each patient due to the patient's unique set of experiences, mental health symptoms, and interpretations of experiences.