Hi there! I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in the state of OH & (LMHC) in the state of Washington. I received my Masters in Mental Health Counseling at Franciscan University in 1998 and have over 25 years of experience working with clients who have struggles with issues such as depression, anxiety, anger, PTSD, grief, and relationships problems just to name a few. My hope is to guide all of my clients in making positive lifelong changes in their lives.
Once you decide to begin therapy, we will schedule your assessment and begin the rapport building during that first session. Following the assessment, I will then choose and plan to utilize an approach that will best fit your treatment needs. You will always be involved during treatment in discussing your personal goals and also sharing your hopes and expectations throughout the therapeutic process.
I will use my experience and bring compassion to help my clients who may be struggling with issues such a as depression, anxiety, trauma, just to name a few. Together, we will meet the goals that you hope and desire to achieve for a more happy and satisfied life.
I have used CBT throughout my years in practice as its seems to be most effective in positive therapy results. During the process, I explain to the client how thoughts lead to feelings while examining the clients belief system. Then process how their thought distortions lead to their negative feelings and in turn help the client to change their thought patterns to help decrease their current symptoms.
Utilizing this approach emphasizes the importance of compassion and self compassion in interactions with the world and also the true self. The goal is to replace feelings of insecurity toward on self with compassion and understanding so that the clients can begin to soothe themselves, accept help from others, and generate feelings of contentment and safety.
DBT is the process of emphasizing the regulation of ones emotions, being mindful, and learning to accept pain. The goals are to understand and accept ones difficult feelings and being able to make positive changes in your life.
Utilized as a more future focused and goal oriented approach in which the client and I will collaborate to establish goals while focusing on the clients strengths and resilience throughout the therapeutic process.
This is a positive approach which allows open questions, affirmations, and reflective listening. In my experience, change seems to occur when clients give a voice to their own reason for wanting the change and creating a plan together.