New to Grow
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a PhD in Psychology and have been providing counseling services since 2001. Throughout my career, I have worked extensively with individuals who have experienced trauma, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and other significant life challenges. I am passionate about providing compassionate, trauma-informed, person-centered care that helps clients feel supported, empowered, and understood as they navigate healing and personal growth. I believe in wellness for the whole person — emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. In addition to my work as a therapist, Clinical Director, and professor, I enjoy working out and competing in bodybuilding and powerlifting competitions. Fitness has become an important part of my own wellness journey and helps me stay energized, grounded, and motivated both personally and professionally. I truly value the opportunity to walk alongside others as they work toward healing, resilience, and creating a life worth living.
A first session with me is designed to help you feel welcomed, supported, and comfortable while we begin getting to know one another. I understand that starting therapy can feel vulnerable or even overwhelming, so I strive to create a warm, nonjudgmental environment where you can share at your own pace. During our first session, we will talk about what is bringing you into therapy, the challenges or concerns you may be experiencing, and what you hope to gain from the counseling process. At the same time, I will gather background information that helps me better understand your experiences, relationships, strengths, and overall wellbeing so we can begin creating a plan that fits your unique needs and goals. Building trust and rapport is an important part of my approach, and I believe therapy works best when clients feel heard, respected, and supported. My goal is for you to leave the first session feeling understood, encouraged, and hopeful about the work we can do together.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to create a compassionate, supportive, and safe environment where clients feel genuinely heard and understood. With more than 25 years of experience working with trauma survivors, including individuals impacted by sexual assault, domestic violence, grief, anxiety, and depression, I bring both clinical knowledge and deep empathy into the counseling relationship. I strive to meet clients where they are while helping them recognize their strengths, resilience, and capacity for healing. I believe in balancing evidence-based practices with warmth, authenticity, and creativity. I often integrate approaches such as CBT, DBT, ACT, Positive Psychology, and creative arts interventions in ways that are tailored to each individual client’s needs and goals. My focus is not only on reducing symptoms, but also on helping clients build self-awareness, emotional regulation, self-compassion, and a greater sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. I also strongly believe in whole-person wellness. Outside of my professional roles as a therapist, Clinical Director, and professor, I enjoy fitness, bodybuilding, and powerlifting because they help me stay grounded, energized, and motivated. I believe personal growth is a lifelong journey, and I value being able to walk alongside clients as they work toward healing, resilience, and creating a life worth living.
I specialize in working with adult women and teenagers, particularly those navigating life transitions, emotional stress, grief, and healing from trauma. Throughout my career, I have worked extensively with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other traumatic experiences, providing compassionate, trauma-informed care in a supportive and empowering environment. I also have significant experience helping clients manage anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and the emotional challenges that can arise during periods of change and uncertainty. My approach is person-centered and collaborative, and I often incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Positive Psychology, and creative arts interventions when appropriate to support the healing process. I believe therapy should be tailored to each client’s unique needs and strengths, helping clients build insight, emotional regulation, resilience, self-compassion, and meaningful change while creating a life that aligns with their values and goals.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we identify unhelpful patterns that may be contributing to stress, anxiety, depression, trauma responses, or life challenges, and work to replace them with healthier and more balanced ways of thinking and coping. My approach is person-centered and trauma-informed, meaning I strive to create a supportive, compassionate environment where clients feel safe to explore their experiences while building practical skills for growth, resilience, and lasting change.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients build practical skills for managing emotions, improving relationships, increasing distress tolerance, and creating a life that feels more balanced and meaningful. My approach is trauma-informed, person-centered, and grounded in compassion and collaboration. I strive to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel safe exploring challenges while also learning concrete tools for change. In therapy, I help clients develop mindfulness and self-awareness, better understand patterns of thinking and behavior, and strengthen their ability to navigate overwhelming emotions and stressful situations. I often integrate DBT skills related to emotional regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and mindfulness to support clients in building resilience, improving communication, and responding to life’s challenges more effectively. I believe in balancing acceptance and change—helping clients honor where they are while also working toward the goals and life they want for themselves.
Positive Psychology
As a therapist, I integrate principles of Positive Psychology to help clients identify their strengths, build resilience, and create meaningful, fulfilling lives. While we work through challenges and difficult experiences, I also focus on helping clients recognize what is going well, develop self-compassion, and increase hope, purpose, and emotional wellness. I use a person-centered, trauma-informed approach to support clients in building on their existing strengths while developing practical tools for growth, healing, and lasting change.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients build awareness of their thoughts and emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. Together, we focus on developing mindfulness, self-compassion, and values-based goals so clients can move toward meaningful change while learning healthier ways to cope with stress, anxiety, trauma, and life challenges.