New to Grow
Hello! I'm so glad you're here! I'm an LICSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) with over 20 years of experience working with a wide range of clients. My background includes extensive experience serving children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in an outpatient setting. I bring a casual, down to earth and collaborative approach to therapy with a focus on making the process feel approachable and positive. My goal is to create a relaxed space where you feel comfortable showing up as you are. If you're feeling hesitant to start therapy, I work to make it feel comfortable, natural and less daunting than you think. No need for any prep, just book a session and show up. Leap and the net will appear! A little more about me: I'm a Minnesota native currently living in Florida. I spend a lot of time cheering my two school age kids on from the sidelines at soccer and volleyball games and watching the MN Wild.
In our first session, we'll take time to get to know each other and talk about what brought you to therapy. I'll ask about your background, current concerns and goals. There's no pressure to share everything all at once or to go into great detail right away. My goal is to make the process feel as natural and comfortable as possible, so you can begin to envision a clearer sense of how we can work together. My hope is that you leave the first session feeling at ease, supported, and comfortable sharing your story with me.
I pride myself on having a naturally warm, casual and relaxed approach to therapy. I believe that building a genuine connection is the foundation for meaningful progress. If you don't feel relaxed in a therapist's presence, or if their approach feels intimidating or unnatural you're not set up for a positive experience. My priority is making sure you are comfortable being yourself with me! Once we've established rapport, I use a blend of insight, practical tools, psychoeducation and evidenced based approaches like CBT, while tailoring therapy to each individual's needs, pace and personality. We'll work to set realistic goals and move toward them in a way that feels manageable and sustainable.
I work well with children, adolescents, teens and adults, and have found particular fulfillment in supporting adolescents, teens and women-especially moms- navigating life, relationships and stress. I believe finding the right fit matters, and I value creating a space where everyone feels comfortable and understood. Whether it's managing everyday pressures of school and social life, navigating a major life change or trauma, or balancing the demands of motherhood, I aim to create a space that feels real, and easy to open up in. No concern is too small or too complex to address if you take it one step at a time.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
I've spent much of my career supporting children and caregivers to improve healthy age-appropriate ways of communicating. Dependent upon age and developmental status I utilize play, conversation and real time guidance through situations ranging from typical life stressors to traumas to help families develop the skills to confidently navigate the day to day together. My goal is to help you develop and fine tune the skills you inherently have to confidently navigate life's hurdles.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a very useful tool that helps us gain an understanding of how our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected and affect our daily lives. I enjoy working with adolescents, teens, young adults and adults to build practical everyday coping skills for anxiety, stress, mood and life transitions. My style is straightforward, supportive and realistic. I understand that change can only happen if the strategies I suggest are tailored to fit your lifestyle and temperament.
Narrative
Narrative therapy helps individuals explore the stories they carry about themselves and where they came from. Together, we work on separating you from the problem and reshaping those stories in a way that feels more accurate, balanced and ultimately empowering.
Play Therapy
Play is the inherent work of children! It is through both structured and unstructured play that children process thoughts, experiences and feelings. Engaging therapeutically through play is a safe, age-appropriate and natural way for kids to work through challenges. And YES! play therapy can be successful in a virtual setting!
Compassion Focused
Compassion Focused therapy helps you notice your inner critic, understand where it came from, and practice shifting your responses to it in a healthy and productive way. We won't just challenge your inner thoughts; we'll retrain your relationship with yourself to be less harsh and more gentle. If you tend to be a strong self-critic, Compassion Focused therapy can be very beneficial.