As a former school counselor with over 30 years of experience and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), I have dedicated my career to supporting individuals facing a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, substance use, and difficulties in achieving academic success. I am passionate about getting to the underlying cause(s) of your concerns. I congratulate you on wanting to take the first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life and I am happy to help support and empower you in that process. My work involves close collaboration with parents navigating the complexities of raising children and teens. Earlier in my career, I also supported clients dealing with weight management, body image concerns, and provided marital counseling to families in crisis.
In your first counseling session, you can expect a safe, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space to talk about what brought you to therapy. I will begin by explaining confidentiality—what is kept private and any limits to that confidentiality. This session is typically focused on getting to know you: your background, current concerns, goals, and anything important you'd like to share. You won’t be pressured to talk about anything you’re not ready to talk about. I may ask open-ended questions to better understand your needs and how I can support you. Together, we begin to build a therapeutic relationship based on trust, honesty, and mutual respect. I will also discuss what counseling will look like moving forward—how often sessions will be, what approaches may be used, and what success in therapy might mean for you. The first session is about exploration, not fixing everything at once. It’s normal to feel a mix of emotions—nervous, hopeful, uncertain—but by the end, most clients feel a sense of relief in having taken that first step. Most importantly, this session is for you. You set the pace, and I will support and guide you through the process at your comfort level.
One of my greatest strengths as a counselor is my ability to build meaningful, trusting relationships. I create a safe, supportive environment where you feel heard, respected, and valued. I’m empathetic and approachable, allowing me to connect with diverse individuals and meet them where they are. My strong communication skills help me collaborate effectively with individuals, families, and community resources to support your success. I’m organized, dependable, and proactive, ensuring that your needs are addressed promptly and thoughtfully.
My ideal clients approach therapy with openness, courage, and a genuine desire to grow. They may come in feeling uncertain or overwhelmed, but they show a deep commitment to understanding themselves and their experiences. This client doesn’t shy away from the hard questions—they lean into vulnerability, even when it’s uncomfortable. They’re honest, not just with the counselor, but with themselves, and they’re willing to explore patterns, emotions, and memories that shape their present. What sets this client apart is their willingness to do the work outside of the session. They reflect on conversations, apply strategies discussed in therapy, and return ready to continue their journey. They respect the process and understand that healing isn’t linear. When they face setbacks, they view them as opportunities rather than failures. My best clients also demonstrates empathy—for themselves and others—and often grows into someone who uses their own healing to uplift those around them. They are living proof that change is possible when met with the right balance of support, insight, and resilience. Their progress not only affirms the power of the therapeutic relationship but also serves as a reminder of the strength that exists in all people.
This treatment method allows my clients to see what the antecedents are that impact their behavior. We will analyze each antecedent to help change how you think and act. I use this approach for anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD.
I employ Gestalt therapy when clients are seeking to improve self-awareness. I focus on the individual's experience in the present moment and how a person experiences their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors as a whole. It emphasizes understanding the "here and now" rather than dwelling on the past.
I will focus on cultivating present-moment awareness and acceptance of thoughts and emotions, helping individuals respond to challenges with greater clarity and calm. It's often used to address depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions by helping people develop a different relationship with their thoughts and feelings, rather than trying to change them directly. The practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment, observing thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations as they arise. Focusing on the current experience rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
I use Rogerian therapy, as a person-centered therapy or client-centered therapy, that emphasizes the client's capacity for self-healing and growth. It's a non-directive approach where the therapist acts as a facilitator, providing a supportive and empathetic environment for the client to explore their thoughts and feelings, ultimately leading to self-discovery and positive change.
I use Narrative psychotherapy that helps individuals and families explore and reshape their life stories to overcome challenges and foster positive change. It emphasizes the power of stories in shaping identity and meaning, and it encourages clients to re-author their narratives by separating themselves from problems and reclaiming their preferred life stories.