LMFT, 11 years of experience
Hi there! I have been active in substance abuse and mental health counseling for over nine years. I use a person-centered approach; however, the theoretical frameworks that most define me professionally combine unconditional positive regard, humanistic, Christian/faith-based, and cognitive-behavioral theory. My style is pragmatic, professional, down-to-earth, and based on professional and personal experiences. I have a unique ability to therapeutically join with clients, partly due to my personality, style, and vernacular. My main goal is to help you and challenge yourself to ignite change in your life.
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, I'll share my history and experience working in the field, then you will have the opportunity to ask questions about me, the process of therapy, what to expect in session, and then we can dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
My biggest strength is my Eclectic Approach: My ability to integrate multiple theoretical frameworks, including unconditional positive regard, humanistic principles, Christian faith-based perspectives, and cognitive-behavioral theory, showcases my versatility and adaptability as a therapist, which allows me to tailor the interventions to meet the unique needs of each client. You can expect me to challenge you, engage in collaborative conversations, and be authentic.
My main focus is on those who need continued support. For example: someone who is in recovery and has a hundred days of sobriety and needs assistance with continued coping skills or CBT interventions. Anyone who is wanting to explore more of their faith in Christianity, or they have anger towards God, are unsure of what God wants them to do in life, they are feeling confused, lost about where they are at in their spiritual journey. Students ages 18 and up is a focus of mine as well. I like to support students who are feeling stressed, might be experiencing some family pressure to do or be better. I can assist in coping skills.
Person-centered therapy is talk therapy in which the client does most of the talking. As your therapist I will not actively direct conversation in sessions, or judge or interpret what you say, but I may restate your words in an effort to fully understand your thoughts and feelings (and to help you do the same). When you hear your own words repeated back to you in this way, you may then wish to self-edit and clarify your meaning. Some main components of Person-centered is as follows: Unconditional positive regard, which means therapists must be empathetic and non-judgmental as they accept the client’s words and convey feelings of understanding, trust, and confidence that encourage clients to feel valued and to make their own (better) decisions and choices. Empathetic understanding, which means therapists completely understand and accept their clients’ thoughts and feelings, in a way that can help reshape an individual’s sense of their experiences. Congruence, or genuineness, which means therapists carry no air of authority or superiority but instead present a true and accessible self that clients can see is honest and transparent.
Christian counseling is a type of therapy that integrates traditional talk therapy methodologies with Christian belief practices by incorporating theological concepts. It focuses on the navigation of spiritual concerns and everyday life struggles encountered by Christians.
Working in the field of addiction, Cognitive behavioral therapy is a main theory that is utilized. CBT combines cognitive therapy with behavior therapy by identifying maladaptive patterns of thinking, emotional responses, or behaviors and replacing them with more desirable patterns.