New to Grow
I am kind, open, honest, and authentic while working with my clients. I will challenge you and push you when you need to be pushed. I will call you out if you are not doing the work. My job is to help you to reach your goals, and I will help you learn to get out of your own way. I will be your advocate for positive change! I can help you identify what is causing the disconnect, help you identify and address trauma, and help you find strength and confidence to be your authentic self and nurture positive, healthy relationships with those you love. I believe that therapy can be the foundation that your ideal life is built upon. I would feel honored to help you through this life changing experience.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
When attending your first session, I spend a lot of time getting to know who you are. I typically do a very thorough psychosocial interview to gather information to help me understand who you are, what you have experienced in the past, and how it has impacted your life. This also helps me to identify your strengths, as well as some areas in which you may need additional support. Although this may sound scary to someone who has never attended therapy, it is a good way to create a bond with my clients and many have expressed that they feel very comfortable at the end of their first therapy session. For those of you who have attended therapy in the past, we will discuss what you have already processed in therapy, what you liked about therapy, and what you didn't like about therapy. This helps me to build a treatment plan that sets you up for success.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I think what makes me unique is the combination of my "non-therapy" work history, the fact that I did not become a therapist until my mid-forties, the wisdom I bring from life experience, the wide range of therapy clients I have worked with in the past, and my personality. Past and present therapy clients have told me they appreciate how real and honest I am. I do not hesitate to hold them accountable and call them out when it would be beneficial to their healing and growth. I am comfortable with most people and tend to build a very strong therapeutic bond with the clients I have worked with over the years. I care very much about my clients and truly feel honored to help them on their healing journey.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I enjoy working with adult individuals and couples. My background is unique because I previously worked as a software engineer/information technology professional for six years and then spent 15 years working for a CPA firm where I specialized in divorce medication and income tax preparation. I have been fortunate to have clients that included many wonderful individuals and couples, including other licensed therapists and healthcare professionals including doctors and nurse practitioners, and corporate executives. In my forties, I decided to pursue my true calling and have been a therapist now since 2014. I have experience working with relationship issues, life transitions, professionals with perfectionist tendencies and/or imposter syndrome, trauma, sex addiction/infidelity and trust, codependency, and I have over 11 years experience working with bariatric patients. It is my passion to help others to reach their therapeutic goals.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
For my clients who have experienced trauma that is negatively impacting their relationships and level of functioning, CPT provides skills to restructure thoughts, leading to a more balanced perspective, improved mood, trust, and self-esteem, and allowing people to move past the trauma. CPT is a valuable treatment modality because it reduces PTSD and depressive symptoms, challenges unhelpful thought patterns, Improves emotional and mental health, and promotes a positive future
Person-centered (Rogerian)
This approach creates a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore their feelings and experiences, leading to increased self-esteem, a stronger sense of identity, and improved interpersonal relationships. It's particularly beneficial for those dealing with issues like anxiety, depression, grief, and identity struggles.
Couples Counseling
Couples counseling (whether it be premarital, marital, or between those in a dating relationship) provides a safe, unbiased space to address issues like trust, financial stress, or life changes. It equips couples with long-term skills for a healthier relationship and a stronger bond. Couples counseling can be used to improve communication, strengthen emotional intimacy, and help couples to navigate through difficult life events, such as infidelity, job loss, empty nest syndrome, issues with extended family, or chronic health issues. Couples counseling provides support and a structured way to work through the challenges.