Licensed to practice in 3 states and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Trauma and PTSD, Anxiety, Depression and 10 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
Hi, I’m Tara. I’m a professional counselor with 19 years of experience helping children, teens, adults, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful change. I became a therapist because I’ve always had a heart for helping people feel seen, heard, understood, and supported—especially during seasons when life feels overwhelming, relationships feel difficult, or you simply aren’t sure what comes next. My approach to therapy is warm, genuine, collaborative, and down-to-earth. I want therapy to feel like a safe place where you can show up as you are without fear of judgment. You don’t need to have the perfect words or know exactly where to begin. We’ll start where you are and figure out the next steps together. I work with clients experiencing concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, relationship and family difficulties, life transitions, self-esteem concerns, parenting challenges, and communication struggles. I use an individualized approach that may incorporate CBT, DBT, EMDR, trauma-focused therapy, solution-focused therapy, mindfulness, and client-centered therapy. I am also a Registered Play Therapist, and working with children and families is an important part of my practice. I use play and developmentally appropriate approaches to help children express emotions, develop coping skills, and work through experiences in ways that feel natural to them. One phrase that guides much of my work is “Awareness creates choice.” When we begin to understand ourselves, our patterns, and our experiences differently, we create opportunities to make different choices. My goal is for you to leave therapy not only feeling better, but also understanding yourself better and feeling more confident navigating whatever comes next.
One of the greatest strengths I bring to therapy is my ability to create a space where clients can feel comfortable, accepted, and genuinely heard. I’m warm, compassionate, and down-to-earth, and I believe a strong therapeutic relationship is an important foundation for meaningful change. With 19 years of counseling experience, I bring a broad range of clinical knowledge while recognizing that every person and situation is unique. I’m able to draw from approaches such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, trauma-focused therapy, solution-focused therapy, mindfulness, client-centered therapy, and play therapy to meet you where you are. I’m a good listener, but I’m also an active therapist. I’ll ask thoughtful questions, help you recognize patterns, offer different perspectives, teach practical skills, and gently challenge you when it may help you grow. I believe therapy should provide more than a place to talk—it should help you better understand yourself and give you tools you can use in everyday life. As a Registered Play Therapist, I also bring creativity, flexibility, and an understanding that people communicate and process emotions in different ways. I value authenticity, humor, compassion, and connection in my sessions. Therapy can involve difficult conversations, but it doesn’t have to feel cold or overly clinical. Most importantly, I bring genuine curiosity about you and your story. I won’t expect perfection or judge you for where you are. We’ll work together to build on your strengths, increase awareness, and help you move toward meaningful and lasting change.
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how those patterns can influence the way they experience everyday life. One phrase I often use is “Awareness creates choice.” When we become more aware of the thoughts and patterns that happen automatically, we have a greater opportunity to decide whether they are helping us or keeping us stuck. In sessions, I help clients slow things down and become curious about what they are telling themselves, how those thoughts affect their emotions, and what they do in response. Together, we identify patterns, challenge thoughts that may be inaccurate or unhelpful, and develop healthier, more balanced ways of thinking and responding. I like CBT because it is practical and collaborative. We don’t just talk about what is difficult; we work on skills you can use in your everyday life. This might include reframing thoughts, developing coping strategies, problem-solving, practicing new behaviors, building emotional awareness, or gradually facing situations you have been avoiding. I also adapt CBT to the person sitting in front of me. With children and teens, I may incorporate play, creativity, visuals, or activities to make the concepts easier to understand and use. My goal isn’t to teach you to “think positively” or dismiss difficult emotions. It’s to help you understand yourself with greater compassion, recognize where you have choices, and develop tools that help you respond to life in ways that better reflect who you are and where you want to go.
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients better understand and manage intense emotions, cope with difficult situations, improve relationships, and respond to challenges in healthier ways. One of the things I value most about DBT is the balance between acceptance and change. I want clients to know that we can acknowledge and accept where they are right now while also recognizing that there may be things they want or need to change. In sessions, I incorporate DBT skills such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. We may work on recognizing emotions before they become overwhelming, learning ways to get through difficult moments without making the situation worse, setting healthy boundaries, communicating needs more effectively, and navigating conflict in relationships. I don’t believe in simply handing clients a list of coping skills. We talk about what is actually happening in your life, identify where a skill might be helpful, and find ways to make it realistic and usable for you. We can practice skills together and adjust them when something isn’t working. I also adapt DBT concepts for children and teens using language, activities, visuals, and examples that make sense developmentally. My approach is compassionate and practical. I’ll validate what you’re experiencing while also gently challenging you to consider what you can do differently. The goal isn’t to eliminate difficult emotions—it’s to help you feel more confident managing them, responding rather than reacting, and building healthier relationships with yourself and others.
I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients process difficult, distressing, or traumatic experiences that may continue to affect how they feel, think, or respond in the present. I believe trauma work should never feel rushed. Before beginning EMDR processing, we spend time building trust, understanding your history, identifying your needs, and developing coping and grounding skills so you feel prepared for the work. You remain an active participant throughout the process, and we move at a pace that feels manageable for you. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or other forms of alternating stimulation, while working with memories, emotions, thoughts, and body sensations connected to distressing experiences. The goal is not to erase what happened or make you forget it. Instead, EMDR can help the brain process experiences that may feel “stuck” so they become less emotionally overwhelming and have less influence over your present life. I may integrate EMDR with CBT, DBT, mindfulness, trauma-focused, and client-centered approaches depending on your individual needs. Most importantly, I approach EMDR with compassion, patience, and respect for your experiences. You are always in control of what you share and how quickly we move. My goal is to create a space where you feel safe, supported, and empowered as we work toward healing—not defined by what happened to you, but better able to move forward with greater understanding and confidence.