Acceptance and commitment (ACT)

I utilize ACT as a treatment modality to help individuals reduce distress, improve their relationship with themselves (self-concept), manage difficult life situations such as illness, divorce, and life stressors (address avoidance), to get unstuck from ruminating thoughts and beliefs about themselves and others (shift perspectives, silver linings), and develop psychological flexibility and acceptance of their lived experiences in recovery from trauma, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and living with chronic pain through cognitive defusion and mindfulness practice. I often combine skills and applications of this theory with other therapeutic modalities such as emotion-focused, attachment-based, dialectical behavioral therapy, compassion-focused, trauma-focused techniques when treating individuals with severe issues of distress and distrust in interpersonal relationships and lived experiences from trauma experienced in childhood through adulthood that has affected relationships, coping capacity, and self-worth.

Trauma Informed Care

As for my background in trauma-informed care, I am a veteran who was one of the first sexual assault coordinators for the Air Force. I was trained and gave trainings in this area and presented nationally regarding the co-morbidity of sexual assault and substance use of military members. The trauma-informed lens recognizes that each person has a story to tell, an experience regarding what has happened to them. It provides sensitivity to the various intersections of self, society, faith, ethnicity, community, and lived experiences. Trauma is complex, and it happens from feelings of rejection, grief that is unresolved, loss of a friend, family member, or pet. It could even be not being able to perform the same job anymore, discovery of an illness, living with a chronic decease. It can also be a veteran who is transitioning from service, someone who has experienced some difficulties, along with the vicarious traumas and burnout experienced by first responders, health care providers, teachers, etc.. These are some of the people I work with, and those that have also experienced oppression, criminal justice involved, discrimination, and other marginalized individuals who carry the emotional pain of what has happened to them and even those of their ancestors. Trauma informed care explores the world from the client's perspective, what their world is internally and externally for them with sensitivity and empathy, creating a safe space to share, explore, process, release, grieve, and heal.

Christian Counseling

I am a Christian, and provide integrated treatment regarding this faith for my clients who desired faith-integrated psychotherapy. I have been trained in this modality through my education and via application throughout my practice in respect to my client's belief system and values. Some clients want a Christian counselor, one that is supportive of their faith as part of their lived experience and healing journey as it is a protective factor. They want to feel supported in this way so they can be their authentic self and share their belief system with someone who they feel will support them applying faith to their life difficulties. I work at the level my client's desire of faith integration, where it makes sense for them, as it is their values that are being supported in therapy. I am informed in my practice as a counselor from my faith; however, as a default, I provide secular only counseling that is evidence-based with all my clients no matter what their faith or background. When a client desires faith integrated in our session, it is integrated as a way to support an individual through the lens of their Christian beliefs, and not as a replacement of their pastor or religious leader. Clients seeking a counselor that is of Christian faith and supports their values, whether or not it is added to therapy, is a reason some client will want to work with me as a therapist. I also work with individuals who have been victims of religious abuse and support clients in therapy processing through traumas as a result of what has happened in the church or being part of a cult.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I utilize cognitive behavioral therapy to address thoughts, emotions, behaviors, feelings, and life stressors. I often integrate this modality with somatic and mindfulness-based interventions to address the difficulties clients experience with adhd, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, substance use, trauma, relationships, anger, self-esteem, hurt, fear, managing tasks and focus; and for processing thought and emotional experiences that lead to stress, isolation, loneliness, worry, sadness, burnout, chronic pain, substance use, and other unhealthy habits and behaviors. CBT is the golden standard of evidence-based care, and when integrated with other modalities, it addresses a wide range of issues that affects well-being. I provide psychoeducation, role-plays, homework, and skills practice to process irrational thoughts and emotion-driven behaviors, to develop problem-solving skills, and to apply stress reduction skills for managing emotions and mood fluctuations. I also combine CBT with motivational interviewing to explore openness and readiness, while also providing validation of my client's strengths and willingness to affect change and transformation in their lives.

Compassion Focused

I utilize CFT, or compassion-focused therapy to support individuals in processing their thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and in creating a space to explore their inner world from the perspective of kindness and acceptance. While as a clinician, I am also holding space for individuals in the session in this manner of unconditional positive regard and nonjudgmental acceptance. Becoming a compassionate witness to ourselves creates a connected space from which to express and explore ourselves through compassionate inquiry, meaning to explore what happened to us with an empathetic perspective to our lived experiences and self-understanding to build self-acceptance, improve mood, and reduce anxiety.