New to Grow
With more than 30 years of experience in counseling, education, and mental health services, I bring a compassionate, culturally responsive, and strengths-based approach to therapy. I hold master’s degrees in Counseling from Webster University and Human Relations from University of Oklahoma, and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. My professional experience spans district-level school counseling, district-level mental health leadership, juvenile justice, family advocacy, career counseling, and community-based support services. I currently serve as a Mental Health Specialist within a public school district, where I provide leadership, training, and support for school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and therapists to promote student mental health and academic success. Throughout my career, I have worked with adolescents, adults, families, and diverse populations facing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, behavioral challenges, trauma, life transitions, domestic violence, career concerns, and family stressors. My approach integrates supportive counseling, psychoeducation, person-centered therapy, and practical coping strategies to help clients build self-awareness, emotional wellness, healthy relationships, and effective decision-making skills. I strive to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, empowered, and encouraged to grow at their own pace while developing the tools needed to navigate life’s transitions and challenges successfully.
During our first therapy session, we will begin with introductions and discuss confidentiality so you understand your privacy rights and the therapeutic process. We will explore your reasons for seeking therapy, current concerns, and the goals you would like to accomplish through counseling. I will explain what a typical therapy session may look like, answer any questions you may have, and discuss possible coping strategies or homework assignments that can support your growth between sessions. Most importantly, our first session is focused on creating a safe, supportive space where trust, openness, and a strong therapeutic relationship can begin to develop at your comfort level.
What makes me unique as a therapist is my ability to blend over 30 years of experience in social services, education, and mental health into a compassionate, practical, and results-oriented approach to counseling. My background allows me to understand the emotional, academic, family, and social challenges that children, adolescents, adults, and families face across different stages of life. I bring extensive experience in counseling, crisis intervention, case management, behavioral support, and resource coordination, while also understanding the importance of collaboration with families, schools, and community providers. My work supporting school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and therapists at the district level has strengthened my ability to identify individual needs, develop effective treatment and support plans, and provide meaningful strategies that promote emotional wellness and personal growth. What makes me especially effective is my ability to create a safe, supportive, and trusting environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered. I combine professional expertise with empathy, psychoeducation, practical coping strategies, and culturally responsive care to help clients navigate anxiety, depression, grief, relationship concerns, life transitions, behavioral challenges, and stress with confidence and resilience.
My ideal clients include school-aged students, adolescents, college students, and adults who are navigating life transitions, emotional challenges, and personal growth. I work well with individuals experiencing test or performance anxiety, depression, grief and loss, anger management concerns, self-esteem challenges, and difficulties with peer relationships, decision-making, or work-life balance. I also support clients through adolescent development, college admissions and scholarship planning, career changes, parenting, mid-life transitions, and life adjustments by providing psychoeducation, supportive counseling, safety planning, and practical coping strategies that foster confidence, resilience, and self-compassion.
Top specialties
Other specialties
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are connected. I aim to work with clients to identify unhelpful thinking patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, and build practical skills to manage stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and life transitions. My approach is collaborative, supportive, and tailored to each client’s individual goals and strengths.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
My person-centered approach is grounded in creating a supportive, collaborative, and respectful environment where clients feel valued and empowered. Drawing from my experience supporting mental health professionals and developing responsive, individualized services, I tailor therapy to each client’s unique needs, strengths, and goals. I focus on active listening, empathy, and helping clients build insight, confidence, and practical strategies for personal growth and emotional well-being.
Psychoeducation
I use psychoeducation to help clients, students, and families better understand mental health, emotional wellness, coping skills, and personal development. Drawing from my experience supporting school counseling programs and training counselors across multiple schools and organizations, I provide practical tools, education, and strategies that empower individuals to make informed decisions, build resilience, and improve emotional well-being. My approach focuses on creating supportive learning experiences that promote growth, self-awareness, and success both academically and personally.