My ideal client is anyone that is seeking change and looking to create more balance in their life. My goal is to create a normalcy in the process of finding support during times when we need clarity. Whether or not there is an identified focus, I will walk individuals through gaining awareness and increasing skills to enhance life functioning through a client centered and empowerment focus. I work with adults in a diverse range of issues. My experience includes working with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, relationship issues, low self esteem, difficult life transitions, trauma (including working with women in a domestic violence shelter). I work with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and incorporate education and mindfulness approaches in conjunction to support each other. Educating individuals in areas of relationship abuse, post separation abuse and how to prepare for the legal system in high conflict is a passion of mine. My professional experiences include a large social service agency and the Alzheimer's Association, in addition to working in group practice providing psychotherapy. I also have a working knowledge to include a holistic background by receiving specialty training from the Chicago College of Healing Arts. I am a graduate of a High Conflict Divorce Coach Certification Program. It is an eight-week, intensive course that focuses on the difficult dynamics of high-conflict divorce and child custody battles. The program focuses on the intricacies of post separation abuse and coaches are trained that it only takes one toxic, abusive or personality disordered individual to create a high-conflict situation. I am also a Certified Coercive Control Clinician. I am a dog lover and you will often find my rescue dogs accompanying me in our sessions.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, my goal is to see if we are a good fit for each other. Seeking a therapist is a powerful step in your journey and it is important to feel comfortable and safe in a space that is supportive of the goals you are seeking. I like to explore what brings you to counseling at this time and how I can best support you. I am here to help support, guide, bring more clarity, identify patterns and provide skills/tools to support how to achieve this. This is a journey and finding that right fit that supports your needs is imperative to achieve your goals.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
I work with clients by combining cognitive behavior therapy with mindfulness practices. I work toward client building a strong sense of self and empowerment. I work with clients to build a strong sense of support and learning self awareness to recognize patterns. In this awareness, clients can then create new opportunities for growth to support their own authentic journey.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
What clients gain by working with me is my ability to provide an unbiased perspective that offers individuals alternative ways of experiencing their situation. Allowing clients a safe space to process and make connections, clients are able to disrupt the patterns they are stuck in and are not able to see otherwise. I encourage individuals to connect with their authentic selves and provide tools to increase their confidence and intuitive skills to make these decisions for themselves.