Hey there! I'm Shirley. We all struggle sometimes. You may need to make a change or a difficult decision. You may feel unsure of how to solve a problem. While family and friends may want to help, they often are unequipped to be truly helpful. Talking with someone unbiased and nonjudgmental can be most helpful when you feel lost or face barriers to achieving your hopes and dreams. I am a compassionate and knowledgeable licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Connecticut. I have about 10 years of diverse experience including trauma, substance abuse treatment, and domestic violence counseling and advocacy. I approach each client with an open mind and an open heart. I believe each person is the “expert” on themselves and it is my job to help them find the tools that will work for them. My journey to counseling has been a long and winding road, going back to school at the age of 50 after a successful culinary career. I graduated top of my class with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Bridgeport. In addition to a comprehensive education, I bring a wealth of life experience to the therapy room. I have been through marriage, divorce, parenting challenges, personal loss, and so much more. I love helping my clients find their passion and direction. I am humbled to walk with them as they discover their life path. I look forward to working with you as you begin your own journey.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During our first session, I want to get to know you. What are your strengths? What do you do well? What coping skills do you already use and how can we expand on them? During our work together, the goal is always to get you to a place of self-sufficiency. I believe that therapy is not a years-long commitment, but rather a temporary place that you can always return to if needed.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
My clinical “toolbox” is crammed full of interventions from many different counseling models including EMDR, mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and narrative therapy. I also take a holistic approach to therapy: everything that affects the body also affects the mind and vice versa. Don't be surprised when we talk about nutrition, sleep, exercise, and everything in between.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Trauma is a major focus for me as both "big T" and "little t" trauma can have a profound effect on your life. This focus has included learning different approaches to healing trauma such as EMDR, somatic, and polyvagal models.