I have worked in the mental health field for 18 years helping people to discover the best and highest expression of themselves once they are free from destructive hurts, habits and hang-ups. I have a Bachelor's in Psychology, Master's in Social Work, Masters in Christian Counseling and a Doctorate in Theology. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Life Coach, and Drug/Alcohol Counselor.
In our first session we will discuss presenting issues (what brought you into therapy). I will gather demographic information, and assessment information needed to know more about you and your situation. Then we will discuss your expectations regarding therapy. There are no trick questions. Therapy is a relaxing setting meant to help you through your challenging life situations. I am happy to answer any questions you have about myself or the therapeutic experience.
I have been a therapist for 19 years. I do NOT have all the answers. I love knowledge and I strive to gain more knowledge daily by learning from research, reading, and various resources I enjoy accessing. I also learn from people that I talk to everyday; including my clients. I am also very honest in assessment of situations. I am not a person who will tell you what you want to hear so you will feel good about yourself. I am going to tell you what you need to hear so you will grow. I want you to go away from a session and feel challenged to make changes that will be sustaining and make you a better you.
I use CBT as an ongoing treatment modality, combined with many others. There is not one treatment modality that fits every individual I work with. CBT can be used for many life issues and situations; however does not work for every person. I will get to know you as the client before determining which treatment method will work best for you. This may include CBT, Narrative therapy, person centered, solution focused, and many others. For Cognitive Behavioral Therapy we focus on how we think, feel and behave. We often have thinking errors about situations or relationships. These thinking errors cause us to have negative emotions, which then lead to negative reactions and patterns of behavior. I can help you find the thinking errors and help those to align with positive perspective that will correct the negative emotions as well as to correct how you react and respond to people, places, and situations.