LPC, 25 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Addictions Counselor in the State Of Colorado. I've been in the Behavioral Health field for over 30 years and am passionate about serving others and helping them achieve their goals in a safe, accepting and compassionate space. I have a wealth of experience working as a therapist with various populations and settings. My role as your therapist is to assist you in exploring and understanding the process of how you've gotten where you are now and the possibilities of where and how to move towards a more healthy, and fulfilled place in your life. In addition to my licensures, I am certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Provider and I'm a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). I have a particular interest in serving those with trauma and addiction, as well as, our First Responders.
First session is a combination of "housekeeping" with making sure all initial paperwork has been completed and consents signed and getting some background information and getting to know each other a bit. It's setting the foundation for the work ahead, really. During this time I will be getting an idea of what brought you in to the counseling process and what your overall goal is for you. I, in turn, will let you know my role in helping you achieve your goals and to support you in the process.
My greatest strength or attribute as a therapist is to be able to align myself with you and to support you in a compassionate way that will allow for a positive therapy experience. Compassion literally translates "to suffer with". For me to stand beside you and to truly see you and to "Suffer with" allows for the beginning of a transformative experience.
I want you to know that my goal for myself is to assist you the absolute best way I can with my knowledge and experience to help you, guide you and support you in exploring and achieving whatever goals you set for yourself. I will create a safe and non-judgmental space for you to share and for us to work through the messiness that we often find ourselves in. I have personally experienced trauma and addiction in my lifetime. I am in recovery myself (For both). From my experiences in doing my own work and working with others, I can tell you there is no shame, only healing and finding a path to a better life. A better life for ourselves and for the friends and loved ones in our lives. It's difficult and sometimes scary to embark on the thought of facing and addressing the "elephant in the room". Let me tell you from experience, the relief once you have taken that first step to talk to someone about it is so freeing! With over 30 years in the field and working with so many different populations, it's difficult to narrow down to what populations I'm best positioned to work with, but I would have to say those with 1). Trauma (Recent or childhood trauma) 2). Addiction 3). First Responders 4). Mental Health (Mood Disorders; Depression/Anxiety) 5). Grief and Loss
I am an EMDR certified clinician and trainer. I utilize EMDR with clients for issues related to mental health, substance abuse, trauma, PTSD and other various compulsions.
I have used CBT in my practice for my entire career. It's often useful in working with individuals with substance abuse and other compulsive behaviors, as well as, Anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and work with clients with various backgrounds of trauma and neglect. Education around how trauma impacts our nervous system and influences how we see ourselves and the world around us is very impactful and helpful for the clients I work with.