Licensed to practice in Michigan and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Life Transitions, Parenting, Self Esteem and 10 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
Hi! Welcome to my profile. I have been in practice for over 30 years and have a lot of experience working with folks who have had various struggles in their lives and want to sort things out and feel better. I hope to provide a non-judgmental, safe place where you can begin to allow yourself to talk about your concerns, worries, fears, and frustrations. Together, we can help you find some answers, direction, and a sense of peace.
In our first session, you can expect me to do my best to listen carefully to your concerns in an open and accepting way. Many folks who start therapy express not knowing "where to start" or "how to begin" and often have some anxiety about meeting. This is totally normal and understandable. I promise you will find your way, and I will help you. I may ask questions to help you talk more about what brought you into therapy. I may ask questions to help us clarify what you are wanting to communicate, and I may take a few notes to help me remember things that are important to our work. It is also perfectly understandable if there is part of you that holds back, or is not yet comfortable sharing all the things you are thinking and feeling. It takes time to develop a trusting relationship in which you can feel safe to share all that you need to share.
Most people who work with me find me to be warmly accepting and sincere. In individual sessions I focus on listening deeply and reflecting back what I am hearing to increase clarity, growth, or depth of understanding. Additionally, many people experience me as actively involved at times and sessions might feel warmly conversational or gently humorous. I use questions to help you explore your ideas, struggles, unique thoughts and solutions. Additionally there are times when you might need a challenge to grow, and I do this by believing in you, and pointing out inconsistencies with the things you say you are wanting and the way you are currently being. In couples sessions, my approach is somewhat more directive. My goal is to help couples talk more to one another, listen to one another, and foster a deeper connection and understanding. When needed, I may direct an intentional, but respectful dialogue, or interrupt unhelpful patterns of relating in order to facilitate more hepful ways to connect with one another.
The clients who fit best working with me are those who are curious, insight-oriented, and have a desire to understand themselves and others, the struggles they are having, and want to improve their interpersonal relationships and achieve greater satisfaction in their lives. These clients may be new to therapy or have had prior unsatisfactory therapy experiences. I enjoy working with new parents, young adults, and adults who are going through life transitions. I also enjoy working with people who feel stuck in their relationships and careers.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In sessions, one of the things we look at together is how your thoughts influence your feelings and behaviors. We examine ways that these might be helpful or unhelpful, and develop alternative ways to look at situations and understand our relationships.
EMDR
Many times in our work together we discover a history of trauma either from a long time ago in childhood or more recently. Trauma may come from a history of emotional, sexual or physical abuse. It may come from having experienced, or witnessing life threatening events. These events can impact our self esteem, feeling of safety, and interfere with our ability to have satisfying relationships, work , and family. EMDR helps to desensitize and reprocess those traumas and lead us to feeling better and less triggered.
Psychodynamic
This method involves deeply listening and carefully understanding people and their internal struggles, which can show up as a variety of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, worries, and behaviors that keep one from having the satisfying relationships one desires. In a psychodynamic method, we explore how thoughts and feelings that one may be unaware of show up in life. Through examining them together in a safe space, we can better understand how those thoughts and feelings impact us, so that we may make different or more satisfying choices leading to improved self-esteem and interpersonal relationships.
Eclectic
Using an eclectic treatment approach, I first listen very carefully to what you are struggling with and what has brought you to treatment. Everyone comes to treatment with different needs, expectations, doubts, and hopes. It is my task to work with you to reach a shared understanding of which treatment modality might best help you accomplish your goals. With over 30 years of experience, I can draw from a variety of treatment modalities to offer ways to assist you.