New to Grow
I am an LCSW with 10 years of experience providing therapy to individuals, couples and families. I have 15 years experience serving veterans and survivors of interpersonal violence. I have held many roles working with a variety of agencies and settings that have brought me to this present role as private practitioner. I began working in Telehealth prior to the pandemic and directed at Telehealth therapy clinic prior to coming here. My professional experiences as a teacher, coach, personal trainer and nutrition coach have shaped my approach in motivating clients and encouraging long lasting resilience. As a therapist, I embrace a client centered, systemic and integrative perspective, recognizing that individuals are infinitely diverse, unique and interconnected with their environments, relationships, and broader systems. I view you as the integral part of a larger whole, influenced by family dynamics, cultural context, and societal structures. In our sessions, we’ll explore not only your personal experiences but also the feedback loops and patterns within your system. By understanding these interactions, the past, the present and hopes for the future, we can collaboratively create strategies, goals and tools to address challenges. Challenges such as life transitions, anxiety, stress, conflict and depression are no match for a toolbox of strategies and resilience we can build in therapy. Together, we’ll work towards nurturing lasting change in your life and developing an understanding of who you are or wish to become.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
The first session serves to introduce me to your life's journey to this point, vision for the future, and goals moving forward. The first appointment includes background information about family history, social history, trauma history, medical history, substance use, vocational history, current/past diagnoses, and current relationships. Although these things may seem invasive, it is vital that mental health professionals have this information available to assess the origins of diagnoses or concerns, and direct an appropriate course of treatment. In wrapping up, your first session includes calibrating treatment to your needs and expectations--how often would you like to attend, what type of support do you need/expect, and what goals would you like to reach in therapy.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
Clients tend to note that I am humorous, warm and compassionate. I truly care about my work, my clients and the field I am in. This is what I have chosen to devote my life to and I intend to commit fully to whatever you bring to the table for us to explore. I am always interested to hear about the unique journeys that have brought someone to my office. The perspectives I bring to the table are diverse and a result of collaborating with and studying under professionals from the Marriage and Family, Case Management, Psychiatry and Psychology fields adjacent to mine.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I find myself best suited to working with people who are curious and are invested in the treatment process. There is a saying in the world of therapy that one "cannot work harder than the client", and I believe that to be true. You get what you put into therapy. Whether it is a listening ear you need, or someone who will push you to achieve your goals, you shape much of what happens in therapy. I find I am best equipped to work with those who are struggling with transitions: Aging, Illness, Birth, Death, Loss, Change, Infidelity, Conflict, Divorce, Marriage, Parenting and Resolving Trauma. I navigate systems with clients regularly, and have found myself working with many members of the same family on many occasions to resolve systems based conflicts.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT assists clients in understanding how emotions and logical thought interact, and how to appropriately engage with anxiety. ACT is a useful framework in developing skills to tolerate anxiety and function in day to day life.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is the underpinning for the majority of therapists, CBT explores the relationship between thoughts, feelings and actions, and how to modify reactions to emotions.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
CPT is instrumental in assisting survivors of trauma in examining how stimuli related to the incident can influence heightened emotions/trauma response.
Imago Relationship Theory
Imago therapy is utilized in couples counseling to understand how life experiences shape our needs and behavior in a relationship and how to understand and communicate those needs to our partner.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness is instrumental in therapy as a way to develop coping strategies and life-long habits that ease symptoms of anxiety and depression independently.