Life can bring challenging chapters in the narrative of our life. Processing and moving forward from these struggles is possible. You have taken a significant step in reaching out. On my journey of healing, I have faced losses that shook my sense of self and I had to move through experiences I did not believe I would have the strength to recover from. I am a person who is comfortable with the uncomfortable. In fact, because I have had to work through most of my dark times alone, I seek to be a support for individuals when challenges arise. A guiding goal for me is to reduce the number of individuals who have to mirror my lived experience. I am an advocate for expressive arts, strength-based, and body-centered approaches. I have over 20 years combined experience working with children and adolescents, as an educator, artistic director, and counselor. I am honored to be a resource of support for youth and adults experiencing grief and processing traumatic experiences. Should you like to learn more about my approach you can contact me at moonflowergrowing@outlook.com.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Alliance is the first step in creating a safe therapeutic space to work. To assist with this, the initial appointment will consist of intake and assessment. For a minor child this will mean a consultation with the caregiver(s) and a time for ‘getting to know’ the youth. For a family system or an adult, a consult will be held with an opportunity to explore goals for treatment. After the initial session, the second session the counselor and client will create a better picture of the service needs. The preference is to create a plan for consistent support using a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly model. Together we will work to build capacity. After our work together, I hope you feel you have grown into an understanding and ability to hold your narrative and found a willingness to progress onward.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
As a person-centered Licensed Professional Counselor, a Registered Drama Therapist, a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Certified School Counselor, and a Certified Sandtray Therapist treatment will be based on embodied healing. This means space will be provided to explore beyond words. Grief and traumatic experiences are complicated and therefore it can be helpful to 'speak from our art'. Therapeutic techniques from play, art, dance/movement, drama, sandtray, mindfulness, and strength-based approaches will be offered to help create a container of safety, expression, and processing.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My strength as a counselor is flexibility. The counseling space is yours and finding what benefits you the most is our goal. Grief is natural but some of the responses we have in our grief can hold us back. Trauma can cause a disconnect in how our heart, mind, and body heal. Sometimes we find healing in unexpected places. Flexibility and a willingness to stick with the process is how we can explore together a way through.