Licensed to practice in Kentucky and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Family Conflict, High Clinical Acuity, Trauma and PTSD and 9 more.
New to Grow
My identity and therapy practice are highly intertwined as I always say "I am a human before I am a therapist". Yes I went to college and got a big degree but my general desire for my clients is for them to feel like they are sitting with an authentic human who has "been there before". I moved from my home in Eastern KY Appalachia to Louisville in 2019. Having this experience has shown me that there ain't much difference in the suffering people have in the country and the city. I believe that our current society and systems all too often force people into hard spots and then tell them to pull themselves up and keep it pushing. My goal in therapy is to slow things down to normalize for you that we are not working on "what's wrong with you" but instead "what happened to you". This allows you to feel safe enough with me to share the parts of your life/mental that even you don't want to address. That is when you start healing. Cause once you feel seen and supported, you feel empowered enough to figure out how YOU want to live (not how you have been told to). I describe this whole process as you are driving the car and I am riding "shot gun" just pointing things out and making suggestions! I find that my unconditional acceptance of clients, use of real world humor/experiences, and gently pushing for change allows us to start building the skills and strategies you need to live in this world as an authentic you. Another favorite saying of mine is "it's your world my guy I'm just living in it"!
Your first session focuses on understanding your symptoms, history, and what brings you to therapy. I liken this session to you going to the doctor and telling them "what's been bothering you lately". I also always say this will be the "getting all in your business" session because I will ask you a lot of questions about a lot of factors of your life. As thorough and honest as you are willing to be will help us decide what arrangement of services and evidence based practices are needed to help you!
My approach typically stands out to clients because I say the things that other therapists are too afraid "aren't professional". I use phrases like "yeah that sucks. Let's sit with that for a moment", "absolutely been there before! Tell me what it feels like for you", "now what we ain't gonna do is --- but I think you're onto something with ---", etc. My client's tell me that I am a "real human that talks like me but has therapeutic things to say". I use humor and the friendship-like trust we build to comfort you while also holding you accountable to growth. My past co-workers gave me a "grandma dumpling award" to showcase my empathetic healing approach!
Anyone with a pulse! I value being adaptable and my 5 years of agency experience has equipped me with skills to work well with anyone 2-99 years old. If you think we will be a good fit then I am willing to give it a shot! I do specialize in early childhood clients 2-6 years old and teens and young adults with complex trauma. Yes! I have 3 main specialities; complex trauma, intergenerational family systems, and adolescent disruptive/destructive behaviors. My trauma‑informed approach includes narrative work, grounding techniques, somatic awareness, and culturally rooted healing practices.
I use this method when we are working on things that you are not quite ready to change yet, court mandated clients, or you are unsure where to start with your change!
I came to salvation myself after I had a young person I was helping complete suicide. Since that time 1.5 years ago, I do use scripture, bible reading, and church connecting in sessions WHEN CLIENTS ALSO BELIEVE. As someone who came from church hurt and avoided God for 18 years, I will NEVER push this on you!
I use elements of this method when clients have suicidal ideation with plan, intent, or chronic suicidality.
My "I'm a human before a therapist" style primarily comes from this modality. This modality supposes that the "experience" of being with an unconditionally accepting and supportive person is ultimate healing avenue.
This is my primary method used as my strongest specialty is trauma within family systems. This modality has enough structure to keep us accountable for learning to live with our trauma symptoms but enough personalization that you don't feel like therapy is a machine. The process is PRAC, Narrative writing, and Consolidating gains. P- Psychoeducation and parenting skills R-relaxation skills for actually tapping into your nervous system and resetting it A- Affective (emotion) identification and expressing C- Cognitive (thought) coping Narrative writing - using all PRAC skills to retell your trauma memories in a controlled way that desensitizes your body to the memories while giving you control over the memory Consolidating gains - resolving any aspects of the trauma that still feel unmanageable and planning forkeepign the skills going in life without therapy