New to Grow
I believe therapy is a collaborative journey where we work together to support your mental, emotional, and physical health needs. My goal is to help you build self-awareness, confidence, and practical skills to manage distress and move toward healing, growth, empowerment and lasting change. I specialize in supporting clients dealing with trauma/PTSD, anxiety, OCD, mood disorders, aging, college mental health issues, codependency, relationship distress or abuse, grief, attachment wounds, emotional dysregulation, personality disorders, and compassion fatigue in frontline and medical professionals. I provide trauma-informed, evidence-based care using CBT, EMDR, somatic and polyvagal approaches, mindfulness, DBT, attachment-focused therapy, Internal Family Systems, EFT/Tapping, and Gottman Method for couples.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
After the initial intake, an individualized treatment plan is developed with clear goals, objectives, and interventions. This plan is reviewed and refined with the client by the second or third session. Client collaboration, feedback, concerns or requested changes to the treatment plan are a vital part of ensuring treatment success.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
As a retired ER nurse with 30 years of experience and over 15 years in mental health counseling, I bring a strong understanding of how stress, trauma, and mental health challenges affect both the body, mind and, and emotions.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
TOP SPECIALTIES: Anxiety Trauma Depression PTSD Mood Disorders Aging Medical/Health conditions ADDITIONAL AREAS OF FOCUS: College Mental Health Attachment Issues Compassion Fatigue Couples Counseling Codependency Emotional Abuse Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Peer Relationships Postpartum Depression Physical Wellness Relationship Issues Sexual Abuse Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum Medical Professional Stress Communication Issues Abandonment Autism Spectrum Disorder Dual Diagnosis
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured, evidence-based therapy used to treat PTSD, trauma, and other stress-related conditions. In EMDR, the therapist helps the client briefly focus on a distressing memory while using bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds). This process helps the brain reprocess the memory, so it becomes less emotionally intense and no longer feels like it’s happening in the present. Rather than requiring detailed retelling of the trauma, EMDR works by: Reducing emotional distress linked to memories Helping the brain store experiences in a more adaptive way Strengthening more balanced, realistic beliefs about self and safety EMDR can be used for: PTSD and complex trauma Anxiety and panic disorders Depression related to trauma Phobias, grief, and chronic stress Performance and attachment-related difficulties The goal is not to erase memories, but to help them feel resolved, allowing clients to respond in the present without being overwhelmed by the past. EMDR is paced carefully and tailored to each client, with a strong focus on safety, stabilization, and readiness throughout treatment.
Trauma Informed Care
I provide clients with an individualized, person-centered, eclectic approach, grounded in trauma-informed care, that integrates multiple evidence-based modalities to create a treatment plan tailored to each client’s goals, needs, and readiness. Interventions may include EMDR to help reprocess distressing memories; mindfulness-CBT and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to enhance emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness; and somatic and mind–body techniques to support nervous system regulation. Polyvagal-informed strategies promote a sense of safety, while attachment-based therapy and Internal Family Systems work to address relational patterns and internal emotional dynamics. Person-centered and interpersonal therapy provide a supportive, collaborative environment, allowing treatment to be thoughtfully paced and adapted over time to foster healing, resilience, and meaningful change.
Somatic
Somatic therapy in psychotherapy focuses on the connection between the mind and body, recognizing that stress and trauma are often held in physical sensations, tension, and nervous system patterns. Trauma-informed care in psychotherapy means recognizing that many people have experienced trauma and shaping therapy in ways that promote safety, trust, and choice. The therapist focuses on understanding behaviors as adaptations rather than problems, avoids re-traumatization, and works collaboratively with the client. The goal is to support healing by emphasizing empowerment, pacing, and respect for the client’s nervous system and lived experience.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Mindfulness-CBT (M-CBT) integrates traditional cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices to help clients become aware of their thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgment. By cultivating present-moment awareness, clients learn to observe maladaptive thought patterns rather than automatically react to them. This approach supports emotional regulation, reduces distress, and promotes more adaptive coping and behavioral choices.