I entered the behavioral health field after seeking professional help for substance abuse, depression, and anxiety. I became a Chemical Dependency Counselor in 1995 and received my MSW in Clinical Social Work from Ohio State in 2002. I have been a Licensed Independent Social Worker in Ohio since 2005. I became a LCSW in Pennsylvania in 2014 and an LCSW in Maryland in 2022. I have worked mostly with adults and some teenagers dealing primarily with depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. I have a holistic perspective of mental wellness and view counseling and other healthy life choices as a way to achieve personal empowerment and self-actualization. This includes family-of-origin work and working on letting go of ingrained thinking and behaviors that hold a person back from achieving the quality of life they want and deserve. I am trauma-informed and comfortable working with members of the LGBT community. I also have experience working with grief and loss issues. My primary modalities are Cognitive-Behavioral, Solutions Focused, and Acceptance Commitment Therapy. Counseling is a client-driven process and is about the issues and concerns the client wants to address and work on.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Gaining insights into their thinking and behavior and suggestions on countering dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors. Assisting people with being more aware and comfortable with their feelings and emotions is an essential part of this process.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
Cognitive Behavioral, Solutions Focused and Acceptance and commitment Therapy/
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Affirming strengths, validating feelings and emotions, and providing hope and encouragement for self-actualization. I do a lot of trauma work and working on dysfunctional family-of-origin issues. I work with several Trans clients on a variety of issues. I also work with people coming to terms with traumatic and negative experiences with organized religion. I identify with a non-religious, spiritual perspective.