New to Grow
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Addictions Counselor in the state of Colorado. I received my Master's degree in Forensic Psychology from the University of Denver in 2017. After completing my Master’s Degree, I spent almost six years working with criminal justice involved clients - from substance abuse to domestic violence offenders. While I learned a lot doing that work, and it was extremely fulfilling to service victims and offenders, I decided to pursue working for myself within the private practice setting. I primarily utilize Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral techniques in my sessions, as well as being trained in Brainspotting for trauma specific treatment. I strongly believe in the connection between physical health and mental health, and do my best to focus on both aspects with the clients I see. I feel fortunate to be able to hear and share in other's stories and be a part of their journey to wellness.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
The first session is intended to get to know one another, discuss expectations for the therapeutic process, and work to define treatment plan goals and ensure that we would be a good match to work together. This session will include more questions and guiding than subsequent sessions which can be uncomfortable, however, everyone always has the right to set boundaries and avoid certain topics until they are more comfortable. My hope is to be open and curious and allow you to be the narrator of your own story. I will not read intake paperwork ahead of the first session to ensure that information gained is in the context of a conversation.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I really value remaining curious in all areas of life, especially in my role as a therapist. This means that I will reserve judgement about you and those in your life until I have adequate information. I also value transparency and direct feedback. This means that I will share feedback and observations directly with you, in an intentional, trauma informed, and compassionate manner. I believe that while therapy will be hard at times, the value in the therapeutic relationship is to gain insights that others in your life may not see or may not feel comfortable drawing attention to. I do my best to implement CBT and DBT techniques in a way that is approachable and not overly clinical. I want these concepts and skills to feel achievable and easily accessible in times of high stress or emotional dysregulation. Therapy can be hard and heavy, and I also value the use of humor when appropriate.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My best matched clients are adults who are ready to invest in themselves and the therapeutic process, whether they are navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, addiction, life transitions, or relationship concerns, they share a genuine desire to better understand themselves and create meaningful change in their lives. My hope is to find clients who are open, engaged, and motivated to do the work that therapy requires. I appreciate curiosity about patterns within one's life, openness to new perspectives, and a commitment to building healthier coping strategies and stronger, healthier, relationships.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have been utilizing CBT in individual and group therapy sessions for almost nine years, and I believe it is important to understand how one's thoughts and beliefs influence emotions and behaviors.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use DBT skills to empower clients to increase self-awareness and be more aware of emotional cues in their body. I believe it is important for clients to practice implementation of skills between session to improve mindfulness, interpersonal relationships, and emotional regulation.
Motivational Interviewing
I believe in using motivational interviewing in all sessions in order to allow clients to guide their own work, set their own goals, and feel capable of making changes in their lives.