LCSW, 18 years of experience
New to Grow
Hi there, glad you are here! I am an accomplished Clinical Social Worker with over 17 years of experience, licensed in Missouri. I graduated with my Master of Social Work from Missouri State University in 2008 with an emphasis in substance use and trauma. I have many years of experience working with clients with a wide range of concerns from PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, addiction, trauma, OCD, ADHD/ADD, and many others. I have also assisted those with serious mental health issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar, dissociative disorder, traumatic brain injuries and those on the spectrum. I am a Certified Crisis Worker and have been trained in CISM and have been active within the community doing debriefings with first responders and medical professionals. I’m here to walk beside you as you navigate the challenges life has placed in your path. Life can be full of beautiful, joyful moments—but it can also bring seasons of pain, loss, stress, or unexpected change that leave us feeling lost or questioning our place in the world. If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. It takes real strength to reach out for support, and I truly commend you for taking this brave first step toward healing and hope. My therapy style is typically warm, interactive and believe in meeting the client where they are currently at. I believe that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect, compassion, and understanding. I don't believe in labels but that in understanding a diagnosis that fits the symptoms we may be able to find solutions and peace while moving forward. I will walk beside you and be your guide. I want to help you achieve the best version of you that you can be! I look forward to meeting you and taking this journey with you.
Beginning therapy is an important and courageous step, and my goal is to make you feel comfortable, supported, and understood from the very start. My therapy style is warm, interactive, and centered on meeting you exactly where you are. I believe that each person’s journey is unique, so I tailor my approach to fit your individual needs, goals, and circumstances. During our first session, we’ll spend time getting to know each other and discussing what brings you to therapy. Together, we’ll begin identifying your goals and exploring what you hope to accomplish. I view therapy as a collaborative process—one where we work as a team to create a treatment plan that feels meaningful and manageable for you. My approach is eclectic and grounded in evidence-based practices. I often draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other integrative methods to help you process your experiences, build insight, and develop practical skills that can be applied in everyday life. Sessions are structured yet flexible, allowing room for reflection, growth, and genuine connection. Above all, I believe that therapy works best when there is trust and openness. My goal is to provide a safe and compassionate space where you feel heard, respected, and empowered to create lasting change. I work best with clients who are ready to engage in the process and take active steps toward improving their well-being—at their own pace and with full support along the way.
At Peaceful Healing, LLC the philosophy is that you are the expert on your own life. My approach is built around you — your story, your values, and what feels meaningful to you. I adapt our sessions as your needs evolve, ensuring our work together always feels relevant and effective. The heart of therapy is relationship. Clients often share that they feel truly seen and heard in our sessions — sometimes for the first time in a long while. I strive to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are, knowing you’ll be met with compassion, respect, and understanding. Emotional struggles are deeply connected to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. I approach therapy with this holistic understanding in mind — integrating practices that encourage awareness, balance, and alignment between mind and body. My goal is not just to help you feel better in the moment, but to help you build lasting skills that empower you long after therapy ends. Together, we’ll work toward helping you gain clarity, confidence, and a sense of peace that supports your everyday life.
At Peaceful Healing, LLC, I believe that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, compassion, and genuine understanding. I don’t view people through labels, but rather through the lens of their lived experiences. While a diagnosis can help us make sense of symptoms and guide treatment, it does not define who you are—it simply helps us find the most effective path toward healing, balance, and peace. My approach is eclectic and person-centered, recognizing that no single method works for everyone. Each individual’s journey is unique, and therapy should reflect that. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting clients through a variety of challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and significant life transitions. These experiences have reinforced my belief that healing is not one-size-fits-all—it is deeply personal, evolving, and unique to each individual. By drawing from multiple therapeutic approaches, I aim to create a supportive and flexible process that honors where you are and helps you move toward where you want to be—one step at a time.
I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) into my work to help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. These evidence-based methods provide practical tools to identify unhelpful thought patterns, build healthier coping strategies, and create meaningful changes in daily life. When working with individuals who have experienced trauma, I use TF-CBT to provide a structured yet compassionate framework for healing. This process includes developing relaxation and grounding skills, learning about common trauma responses, and—when the client is ready—processing difficult experiences in a safe and supportive environment. My goal is to empower clients with insight and skills they can carry beyond therapy. By combining CBT and TF-CBT techniques with mindfulness and self-compassion practices, I help clients strengthen resilience, reduce distress, and move toward lasting emotional well-being.
I integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into my practice to help clients develop greater flexibility in how they respond to difficult thoughts and emotions. Rather than focusing on eliminating discomfort, ACT teaches clients to acknowledge their internal experiences with openness and compassion while taking action guided by their personal values. Through mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies, clients learn to observe their thoughts without judgment, reduce avoidance, and create more space for meaningful choices. Together, we explore what truly matters to them and build the skills to move toward those values—even in the presence of pain or uncertainty. ACT can be especially effective for individuals managing anxiety, depression, trauma, or chronic stress. My goal is to help clients cultivate resilience, authenticity, and purpose, creating lasting change through mindful awareness and committed action.
I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to help clients heal from distressing experiences and trauma that continue to affect their emotional well-being. EMDR is an evidence-based approach that supports the brain’s natural ability to process and integrate difficult memories, reducing their emotional intensity and the impact they have on daily life. In sessions, I guide clients through a structured process that combines focused attention on specific memories or sensations with various techniques. This process helps the brain reprocess stored memories in a way that fosters relief, insight, and healing. EMDR can be especially effective for trauma, anxiety, phobias, and other stress-related concerns. I create a safe, collaborative environment where clients develop grounding and stabilization skills before processing traumatic material. My goal is to help clients move from a place of emotional reactivity and distress toward a greater sense of calm, empowerment, and self-understanding.
I incorporate Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Exposure Therapy into my work to help clients gradually face fears and reduce the anxiety or avoidance that often accompanies them. These evidence-based approaches are especially effective for individuals experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), phobias, panic, or other anxiety-related concerns. ERP involves carefully and collaboratively exposing clients to feared thoughts, situations, or sensations in a safe and supportive environment—while helping them resist the urge to engage in avoidance or compulsive behaviors. Over time, this process retrains the brain to recognize that anxiety naturally decreases without relying on avoidance or rituals. My approach emphasizes pacing, collaboration, and compassion. Before beginning exposure work, clients learn coping and grounding skills to build confidence and emotional safety. Through consistent practice, clients discover that they can tolerate discomfort, reduce anxiety, and regain a sense of control and freedom in their daily lives.
I integrate Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) into my practice to help clients understand how their thoughts, beliefs, and interpretations influence their emotional and behavioral responses. As one of the earliest forms of cognitive-behavioral therapy, REBT focuses on identifying and challenging irrational beliefs that contribute to distress, and replacing them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. In sessions, I work collaboratively with clients to explore the underlying “should,” “must,” and “have to” beliefs that often drive emotional reactions such as guilt, anger, or anxiety. Through guided reflection and practical exercises, clients learn to develop healthier, more flexible ways of thinking that promote emotional resilience and personal growth. REBT is particularly helpful for individuals struggling with perfectionism, low self-esteem, or self-critical thought patterns. My goal is to help clients gain greater insight into their belief systems, strengthen self-acceptance, and cultivate a more compassionate, empowering outlook that supports lasting emotional well-being.