(She/Her)
I am a Licensed Mental Health counselor, located in Florida. I use humor and honesty, and I believe in the power of validation. I can help you work through common stressors such as workplace issues, relationship issues, and anxiety, and I can help you figure out who you are. I believe you are who you are because of your life experiences, but that does not mean you can't change and become who you want to be. I specialize in helping people who have chronic pain or medical issues. I have been living with Young-Onset Parkinson’s Disease (I am 56) for 12 years, and I understand the challenges, both physically and mentally, of living with a diagnosis, any diagnosis. I may not be able to take the diagnosis away. , but I can help you with the inevitable depression and anxiety that may come with it. The mind/body connection is real.
In our first full session, I will want to know what brought you to therapy, and I will ask many questions about your life/history. I would like to know why you chose me over all of the other available options. I will ask you about your family history and any trauma you may have experienced. After gathering all that information and asking you about your goals for therapy, I will make suggestions for a course of treatment and assign any ‘homework’ if I think it will be helpful. If I see a couple, I always meet with them individually as well as together in order to get a complete assessment.
Throughout my career, the things clients have said they appreciate about me are my honesty in speaking what I see/hear/believe, and my sense of humor. If you aren’t laughing at some point during therapy, I believe you are doing it wrong. Empathy and validation are priceless, and nothing makes me feel better than helping someone see that they are not crazy and that what they are experiencing is real. Being diagnosed with a chronic and progressive illness has made me a better counselor, and I hope to assist others, whether you have chronic pain or health issues or not.
I prefer clients who are ready to be honest and are willing to look at themselves. I want the client to want help, not the one who is seeking therapy because someone else wants them to. I often suggest readings or assign 'homework', so someone motivated to complete these tasks is preferred. I am not afraid to challenge a client on something they are doing; otherwise, what is the point of counseling?
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have always believed that if you can’t change a situation, you can change the way you THINK about the situation. And, most of the things that cause anxiety and depression come from trying to control things we can't, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness. Using CBT can give you a greater sense of control in your life. Cognitive Therapy has helped dozens of clients challenge recurring thoughts and manage their anxiety. We’ll use CBT to first discover how much energy you waste trying to control the uncontrollable and then recognize how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other. We’ll then use that knowledge to change your thought patterns, which will help you lead a less anxious, less stressed life. Supportive therapy and validation are also important in the therapeutic process.
Supportive
Most people really want to be seen/heard. I will listen to everything you think I need to know in order to help you. Supportive therapy uses empathy and validation to help manage stressors.