Licensed to practice in Alabama and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Depression, Mood Disorders, Trauma and PTSD and 10 more.
(she/her)
New to Grow
Something brought you here – and it’s worth paying attention to. I’m Julie, a clinical therapist with over 30 years in the mental health field, specializing in trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and mood instability. I started as a case manager three decades ago, then went back for my masters in social work to deepen my capacity to help. My approach is humanistic and holistic – I treat mental health the same way I treat physical health, because all health is brain -based. I’m also a trained visual artist, and I integrate expressive arts and guided imagery into the work when it fits. My main expertise is working with individuals who have experienced trauma or abuse, but I also have experience treating depression, anxiety, and a variety of other mental health conditions. The goal is to learn new survival skills, and to thrive in this beautiful, but also very challenging world that we live in. For those wishing to go deeper, I enjoy working with clients who are faith based or spiritually seeking, and I find that much of what we teach in therapy is parallel to Faith based teachings. This creates a natural fit for many who find comfort in this kind of orientation.
During our first session, we will first address the specific concerns that brought you to therapy, such as what has been painful, difficult or not working well. Then, I’ll ask you some questions about your history to understand your situation. This might include current stressors, family and medical background, your strengths/interests and support systems, and what you hope to achieve through therapy. Next, we’ll create a treatment plan by focusing on your goals and identifying therapeutic interventions. We will also talk about the general course of therapy and address any treatment expectations or concerns you may have. Lastly, we will then schedule your ongoing therapy sections.
My style is humanistic, holistic, and grounded in the belief that all health is brain based. I draw from somatic skills, cognitive tools, spiritual faith- based interventions, expressive arts, and crisis intervention – supporting you, never directing. I work in a primarily eclectic style, so this means I am knowledgeable about a variety of approaches to therapy, utilizing a best fit approach. I also maintain a focus on updating my therapy skills through ongoing training addressing the latest information involving cutting edge best practice therapy models. This guides me to be able to use the most helpful therapeutic approach based on the presentation of the client and their needs. Most importantly, I always consider the importance of safety and teaching my clients coping skills that they can use in between sessions.
My ideal clients are adults who feel overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, grief, trauma related symptoms, or mood instability, and want real support, not judgment. Many come in feeling stuck, emotionally exhausted, disconnected from themselves, or unsure about how to move forward. Together, we make sense of what they’re experiencing, understand how it shows up in both mind and body, and build practical tools that help them feel more grounded, stable, and hopeful. I specialize in helping adults with trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and mood related challenges. My approach is warm, holistic, and humanistic, drawing from evidence-based skills, somatic tools, guided imagery, and expressive arts when helpful to support healing, insight, and lasting change. Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, especially when you’ve been carrying so much on your own. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin. If you’re ready for support, healing, and a steady path forward, I’d be honored to be part of that process.
Other specialties
I identify as
Eclectic
I draw from a variety of therapy models to support people who are navigating trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and mood instability. My style is humanistic, holistic, and grounded in the belief that all health is brain based. I draw from somatic skills, cognitive tools, expressive arts, ( I am a trained artist), and crisis intervention – supporting you, never directing.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy helps people experience more of what they want in life because it removes the barriers to reaching their goals. It helps clients to stop running from difficult emotions and start living in alignment with their core values. Through learning about mindfulness and some behavioral strategies, I will help you unhook from negative thoughts, build deep resilience, and take meaningful action toward the life you want.
Trauma Informed Care
I find that trauma informed care is foundational to my therapeutic approach. All symptoms are the body and mind’s way of coping with past adversity. We will start the therapeutic process with building a relationship based on safety, trust and mutual respect. Being client centered, you direct and pace the direction of our sessions. By helping you reconnect with your strengths and supporting you with new resources that you are able to use in between sessions, healing is facilitated in a space that is predictable and empowering, and when ready you are better able then to process your experiences without fear.
Grief Therapy
Grief is a natural response to loss: it can result from losing a loved one, or experiencing other major life changes such as a divorce or a job loss. In therapy, it is treated as a process of adaptation rather than something to cure. My job is to hold the space for you to acknowledge and heal from your grief so that you are able to move forward with your life in a meaningful way.
Somatic
In therapy, we won’t just analyze your thoughts; we’ll notice how your body responds to them. Then we will work with strategies such as grounding, breathing, and guided imagery as tools for self soothing as a supplement to talk therapy. Depression and anxiety symptoms stem from the emotion centers of the brain, and engaging in these strategies helps people to utilize a different part of the brain which aids in lowering mental health symptoms, and in increasing well-being.