(she/her)
I am a licensed Clinical Social Worker, in Michigan, with over 20 years of experience as a mental health provider. I serve clients by helping them address various stressors such as anxiety, depression, interpersonal relationships, trauma, health complications, drug use, incarceration, as well as overall life challenges related that were both expected and unexpected. Respect, empathy, positive regard, as well as faith in God and people are foundational to the services I provide. I provide mental health support, based on best practices, to help clients resolve dilemmas and challenges that impacts their mental and emotional health. The challenges they face can be related to the past, present or future. My clients report they feel very comfortable talking to me and that services directly addresses their concerns and helps them to resolve their issues. My goal is to empower my clients so that they have lifelong skills that supports them, now and in the future, if they should ever have any challenges again. My method is non-judgmental, friendly, yet professional, rooted in evidence based, best practices. I'll help you resolve your issues based on your life goals and values. Services will be practical, relevant, effective and tailored to your needs. My therapy style is warm and engaging. I don't embrace judgment, fear-based tactics or condemning others. I believe in providing unconditional positive regard, yet accountability, while helping you to move forward in pursuit of a high-quality life. My approach combines solution focused, client based, dialectical and cognitive-behavior therapy and can be psychodynamic. I will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I'm ready to support you through this process! I look forward to working with you!
In our first session, I'll take the time to identify what style of therapy works for you. This includes identifying, what you don't prefer and what has been ineffective historically, if you've ever used therapy before. We'll review the presenting problem, factors contributing to your concerns and signs and symptoms of the distress you are experiencing. You're always welcome to ask questions and provide feedback. We'll begin the process of identifying your goals and methods to help you achieve them while resolving the problem. From the first session to the last I'll do everything to make you feel comfortable and relaxed.
I think my greatest strength is my capacity to take my training and knowledge about mental health challenges, interventions and human behavior and transform that into effective services, that will include solutions that resolve your particular problems and meet your specific needs. When it comes to Christian therapy, you'll be able to see how our faith is applicable to the current issues you are facing. You'll be able to effectively apply your faith and beliefs to your concerns in an efficient manner, which doesn't require you to compromise your values and beliefs systems. You can also use services that don't incorportate your faith but are strictly evidence, which will still align with your faith.
I have extensive history working with individuals of all ages, including geriatrics, dealing with a multitude of concerns including life changes, transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, career changes, retirement, loss of spouse, partner, divorce, interpersonal conflict, difficulty with emotion regulation, distress tolerance, preoccupation with traumatic events, difficulty adjusting to life changes, managing mental and emotional health, conflict with decision making, dealing with occupational conflict, racism, prejudice, major life transitions and chronic and persistence illness.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I provide Cognitive Behavior Therapy to support clients to address a variety of life challenges, from interpersonal conflicts, self-esteem issues, substance use disorders, various forms of anxiety, depression, marital and parenting conflicts. I've been providing CBT for over 15 years to a variety of clients. I utilize a bio psycho social approach to resolve the presenting problem. Moreover, I support my clients so that they can address the root cause of problem, while applying a variety of healthy coping skills to manage the symptoms of distress related to the presenting problem, until it is resolved. The coping skills are internal and external and benefit the client so that they can function in society, complete daily living activities, engage in work and address relational conflict. Dialectical Behavior Therapy is often incorporated in services and clients who specifically request Christian based services will be provided them, in conjunction with CBT/DBT
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has 4 pillars (Mindfulness, Interpersonal Relationship, Mood Regulation and Distess Tolerance). It is beneficial for managing everyday issues, interpersonal relationships, difficulties with completing daily living activities and challenges in work and school. DBT is also beneficial for individuals living with personality disorders, anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, PTSD and a variety of mental health disorders.
Christian Counseling
Christianity is a protective factor to good mental health and our overall quality life. There are multiple components of the Christian faith that easily support the treatment method of CBT & DBT and the treatment of trauma. Prayer, scriptures and faith-based affirmations are incorporated into treatment. All treatment aligns with Christianity and is person centered and tailored to the needs of the individual client. Prayer can also be utilized in the session, only if the client prefers it.
Couples Counseling
I work with couples dealing with a variety of issues, helping them to identify and resolve the foundational problem and healthy coping skills that reflects their specific goals and values. Services include learning healthy communication skills, effective interpersonal skills, fostering shared values, respect and gratitude for your partner, developing and maintaining relational friendship and management of individual mental health challenges that are negatively impacting the relationship, as well as, problem solving. John Gottman's approach to healthy relationship and marriage is a fundamental component of services.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Culturally sensitive therapy is provided to men and women of specific ethnicities, in which they work to resolve issues arising between their culture and larger societal norms and customs. I've worked with 1st and 2nd generation (adult) immigrants who need to work through family expectations that conflict with their own life goals and dreams. Moreover, clients may be struggling with guilt they experience due to their parents sacrifices, as well as, trauma due to racism/prejudice and previously managing daily living responsibilities (parentification) at a young age. I work, particularly, with African American's and 1st and 2nd generation migrant children, specifically, Latina/Latino (such as Cuba, Guatemala, Columbia, Mexico, Brazil,) Asian (such as Chinese, Pilipino, Vietnamese, Korean) , South Asian (India, Nepal, Pakistan), African (Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Congolese, Eritrea) and the Caribbean (West Indies, Haiti). Clients may also be biracial or the children of an interracial marriage or relationship and need to work through identity issues, merging different cultures, customs and focus on developing their own identity, autonomy and self-actualization. Family Systems theory is often used and beneficial to identify how a clients, traumatic experiences occurred, normalized and unaddressed. Reviewing family practices, over generations can help clients process trauma, and move from the role placed upon them, in the family, to developing their own identity based on their beliefs and values, which often results in a more rewarding lifestyle and improvement in mental and emotional wellbeing.