LMHC, 24 years of experience
Hello! I understand that when we’re struggling with something overwhelming and there’s a lot on the line, getting real help from a competent, experienced professional is crucial. Whether you’re experiencing stress, a relationship issue, or anxiety or sadness, or you simply want to improve your life, you’re in the right place: I’m a seasoned, doctoral level Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 24 years in the field, with a wealth of knowledge and experience to help individuals, couples and families with practically any issue or problem of living. If you are a military member, veteran or family member, thank you for your service and sacrifice on our behalf! You’ll feel right at home with me: Thanks in part to my 14 years as a Military & Family Life Counselor assigned to all military branches, I also have a strong understanding of the unique challenges that military families face, and special competency in helping with not only problems of living in general, but also the special issues that accompany military life.
In our first session, we’ll get to know each other, and use a strengths-based focus to frame your issue and goals, and to use those strengths and positives to begin to develop solutions that are matched to your unique needs and values. You can expect to feel better after our first session, thanks to the power of counseling and the therapeutic relationship that we will build from our first moments together. Most clients experience a significant lifting of symptoms and sustained improvement after just a few sessions.
As you seek out a helper, it's likely important to you to find someone who is human, someone who "gets" you, someone who is truly helpful. This feeling can only come from a counselor who listens intently and carefully, with the goal of understanding you, not judging. My clients describe me as warm, empathetic, kind, and "real." I'm passionate about helping: It's not just a job, it's what I am and what I live for. We all experience problems as we travel through life. While challenging, we don’t have to let these experiences stop us. There’s a lot we can control and impact, and also immense opportunity for self-growth, wisdom, and ultimately, greater happiness and well-being. While I borrow from many different theories and therapeutic tools, and at the same time that I see the problematic aspects of my client's picture, I begin and end with the positives in that picture. I use the power of positivity and focus on my client's strengths, like their intelligence, insight, and what they've accomplished on their own thus far toward a solution. I can’t think of a greater honor than to help you. There's nothing that we can't accomplish together!
Congratulations on taking the courageous first step to give counseling a try! While it’s not everyone’s “fix,” counseling is powerfully therapeutic in that it helps people gain insight and self-understanding, and develop strategies or solutions for many of the problems or issues that we all face in life. I help individuals of all ages, couples and families. Whether you are experiencing stress, a relationship issue, or emotions like sadness or anxiety, there is hope and resolution. Counseling offers a safe, positive relationship in which we can talk about and resolve just about anything, and help you achieve your goals and become a healthier, happier you!
I combine traditional and contemporary therapies to create a holistic, integrative approach to well-being that is tailored to your uniqueness and complexity. While I draw from a variety of theoretical approaches, solution-focused brief therapy is my favorite, as it sees the person in terms of their positive qualities and strengths. This approach is also cost- and time-efficient.