As an LPCC, I who understands firsthand the impact of mental health struggles on families. After losing my mother to suicide at fifteen and working as a special education teacher, I discovered my calling to provide deeper, more meaningful therapeutic relationships. My personal journey through loss and healing, combined with my clinical expertise in EMDR, neurofeedback, and somatic approaches, allows me to connect authentically with clients facing their darkest moments and guide them toward hope and healing.
In our first session, I create a safe, non-judgmental space where you can share your story at your own pace. We'll discuss what brings you to therapy, your goals, and any immediate concerns or safety issues. I'll explain how my personal experiences inform my clinical work while maintaining appropriate boundaries. We'll explore your history, current symptoms, and family dynamics to develop a comprehensive understanding of your situation. I'll introduce you to my integrative approach, explaining how we can approach our sessions together to accomplish your goals. By the end of our session, you'll have a clear sense of how we'll work together and a preliminary treatment plan tailored to your unique circumstances.
My greatest strength is my ability to combine lived experience with clinical expertise, creating authentic therapeutic relationships that foster genuine healing. Having walked through profound loss and emerged stronger, I offer hope to clients who feel hopeless while maintaining professional boundaries and evidence-based practices.
I'm best positioned to serve individuals and families navigating complex mental health challenges, particularly those who feel stuck or hopeless. My ideal clients include adolescents and adults struggling with trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, and grief. I especially connect with clients who have experienced family dysfunction, caregiving burdens, or loss of a loved one to suicide. Whether you're a parent concerned about your child's behavior, someone dealing with mood disorders, or a family system in crisis, I work well with clients who are ready to engage in deeper therapeutic work and are open to innovative approaches like neurofeedback and EMDR alongside traditional therapy methods.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I guide clients to identify distorted thought patterns and behaviors fueling their struggles, using tools like thought records to challenge negative beliefs. My experience with CBT is rewarding because it’s structured yet flexible, allowing me to tailor interventions to each client’s needs. I assign homework, like journaling, to reinforce skills and track progress, which helps clients see tangible changes.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
When my client struggles with intense emotional reactions, I teach them the TIPP technique to manage crisis moments - using cold water on their face to activate their dive response and quickly reduce emotional intensity. We practice these distress tolerance skills during sessions so they can use them effectively when overwhelmed.
Family Therapy
I work with parents and their teenage son to understand how their communication patterns maintain conflict cycles in the household. We practice new ways of interacting where each family member can express needs without triggering defensive responses from others.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Instead of focusing extensively on my client's depression history, I ask them about times when they felt even slightly better and what was different during those moments. We identify these existing strengths and resources to build practical solutions for their current challenges.