(she/her)
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the Tampa Bay area with master’s degrees in Professional Counseling and Addiction & Recovery. For more than ten years, I have worked with children, adults, and families across a broad range of clinical settings, including community counseling centers, residential treatment facilities, correctional institutions, behavioral health hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, hospice programs, substance use groups, and the criminal justice system. My therapeutic approach is collaborative, trauma‑informed, and strengths‑based. I prioritize creating a safe, confidential, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel respected and supported as they explore their experiences. I integrate evidence‑based strategies to help individuals build practical skills, strengthen emotional regulation, and restore a sense of agency. Above all, I center each person’s dignity and self‑worth, tailoring care to meet their unique needs and goals.
Scheduling a first therapy appointment requires considerable courage, and it is important to know what to expect. In the initial session I introduce myself and summarize my professional background, and I emphasize that therapy is a client‑centered process conducted in a safe, confidential, and nonjudgmental setting. I would then complete a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, gathering the client’s relevant background information, including family, personal, and developmental history, to inform treatment planning. The primary aim of this session is to create a supportive atmosphere where the client feels understood and at ease, to introduce my therapeutic approach, and to determine whether a collaborative therapeutic relationship is the right fit. My intention is to establish a foundation of trust and comfort that enables clients to begin their work toward meaningful, sustained change.
Clients consistently describe me as insightful, compassionate, nonjudgmental, and supportive. I utilize a collaborative and approachable therapeutic style, integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help individuals understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while applying practical strategies to daily life. I maintain a pace that is both comfortable and responsive, ensuring that each person’s unique needs guide the direction of our work. I strive to create a safe, welcoming environment where clients can gain clarity, cultivate grounding, and engage in meaningful personal growth. With a focus on individualized care, I provide steady guidance and support throughout each person’s therapeutic journey, fostering insight, resilience, and lasting transformation.
I support individuals navigating significant life transitions — whether they’re adjusting to employment changes, becoming empty nesters, grieving a loss, re‑entering the community after incarceration, moving through postpartum shifts, managing caregiving responsibilities, or facing other major turning points. My work focuses on helping clients regain stability, rebuild identity, and develop the emotional tools needed to move forward with confidence and resilience.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Over the past decade, I have utilized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to assist clients in identifying and understanding the interconnections among their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and physical sensations. Throughout the therapeutic process, I have provided guidance in implementing a range of CBT strategies, such as establishing goals, challenging irrational or distorted thinking patterns, fostering positive self-talk, engaging in role-playing exercises, practicing relaxation methods, and employing other evidence-based techniques to promote psychological well-being and personal growth.