I am a Licensed Clinical Social worker based in Bowling Green, KY who has an obsession with Dolly Parton, Pekingese dogs, and New Orleans. I have been in practice since 2017 and have worked with clients experiencing substance abuse, sexual trauma, and grief and loss. I believe that therapy can awaken parts of us that hold more strength than we know. Therapy gives back to us the power and the peace that might be eluding us because of that pain and confusion and longing we struggle with as a result of trauma or neglect. I have seen the way therapy can heal and inspire change and it is the highest honor to walk alongside my clients in their journey. As a therapist, I still haven't found magic words to make it all better or take it all away. But in sessions with me, you will feel heard and seen. I will always keep your life and therapy goals in mind. I will support and challenge you with humor and sincerity. So when you're ready, I'm here.
In our first session, my clients can expect to be met with sincerity and my genuine interest in their life and their hopes for therapy. My client can expect to be met with patience and guidance and understanding as we work to make a plan for how I can best help them reach their goals for therapy. In the first session with me, a client can expect to hear maybe a cuss word, or two, and probably a few lame Dolly Parton references, where the opportunity arises. ;-)
As a therapist, my greatest strength is my capacity to understand and share the feelings of my clients. I meet my client where they are and I do so with cultural competence that provides each client a sense of comfort in my sessions, no matter their individual background or therapy needs. It matters to me that my clients recognize that I'm walking beside them in this process.
T-CBT helps clients work through emotional blocks and take control over those trauma responses that keep us stuck in the pain. I use T-CBT to help clients learn about those reactions to traumatic experiences and reduce feelings of guilt or shame by using mindfulness, acceptance, and psychoeducation with somatic processing.
Trained in EMDR processing, I use this method of treatment to address trauma flashbacks associated with PTSD, high anxiety, and treatment-resistant depression. Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy aims to alleviate distress associated with disturbing memories by using structure and bilateral stimulation. EMDR Early Intervention is not only about treatment; it’s also about preventing long-term suffering.
Internal family systems therapy (IFS) is a form of psychotherapy that views a person as having multiple sub-personalities or “parts”. I use IFS to help individuals understand and acknowledge these parts of themselves in a compassionate and non-judgmental. IFS promotes self-awareness, healing, and inner peace which can help combat child wounds, anxiety, and feeling "stuck" in a functional freeze.
I use DBT to help clients understand how their thoughts affect their emotions, providing tools for emotional regulation and mindfulness. Rather than focusing on efforts that cause problems for the person, DBT helps people us learn healthier ways to cope. This method can help clients with Borderline Personality Disorder, disordered eating, and those with self-harm behaviors.