Emotions, relationships, communication, loss, addiction, trauma, change. Life is a cycle of joy & pain, and at times, it may feel like the pain is winning. I believe you are powerful beyond measure, that you have all the answers and solutions you seek but the pain and circumstances of life often block your access to them. You may not fully believe how powerful you are now, but, if you allow me, I can help you find this truth. You are not broken. You don't need to be fixed. We all need some help now and then and helping others is the core of what I do. I've been empowering individuals since 1999. Using an extensive set of skills, combined with compassion, understanding, and a non-judgmental and collaborative approach, we will focus on restoration rather than pathology. Together we will restore and celebrate the courageous, and resilient you! I specialize in the healing of trauma, PTSD, anxiety, mood stabilization and addiction recovery. I hold an advanced degree in psychology, I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Clients have described my counseling style as transparent, authentic, and real. I am extremely competent, but I curse some, and I'll compassionately encourage your growth. You are important to me, and you will know this by how I give you my undivided attention during sessions.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
The first session is an intake session. It is an information gathering session. I ask a lot of questions; you get to ask questions too. It is where you get to decide if I am a clinician you'd like to work with or not. If we are a good fit, we'll schedule follow-up sessions, and develop a goal-oriented treatment plan based on what you'd like to accomplish. If you're not sure, that's ok, healing is a process, and goals change over time. Initial goals are just a starting point.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
We may or may not recognize it, but all of us experience some form of trauma. Using current and progressive methods, I help my clients identify and reprocess the emotional residue of their traumatic experiences. Mood dysregulation can be overwhelming. Excessive worry, fearful dread, irritability, racing thoughts, fatigue, shutting down, going numb, loss of motivation, headaches, muscle aches, unexplained pain. Anxiety and/or depression occur in response to an inability to cope with external and even internal stressors. I teach clients powerful skills to help regulate emotions and learn how to cope effectively. Whether it is a substance such as alcohol or behavioral such as gambling or sex, addiction takes lives, ruins relationships, steals self-respect and esteem, and impacts the individual and everyone who cares about them. Addiction is insidious and doesn't discriminate. Addiction is not a choice, addictive behaviors may have been a choice in the beginning, but untreated addiction steals choice. Recovery is possible. Recovery restores choice. With extensive professional and personal experience with addiction and recovery, I offer understanding, compassion, and when an individual desires restoration, or if you need help understanding and coping with a loved one's addiction, I can help.