LPC, 8 years of experience
New to Grow
I provide therapy for anxiety, depression and mood disorders, phobias, and PTSD. I especially have a passion for working with teachers, college students and helping people heal from medical trauma. If you are stressed out with your career in education, anxious about figuring out your future, exhausted with caregiving, have experienced a challenging diagnosis such as cancer, a life-changing injury, or are struggling to cope with a chronic condition, I can create a safe and empathic place for you to encounter your fear and grief and transform it to peace and acceptance.
First, welcome to my therapy space! The therapy space is a confidential, boundaried place set aside where you can be comfortable and safe bringing your genuine self and your concerns. As a telehealth practitioner, our space also includes our on-screen portal and the space you choose on your end. I practice telehealth from my office; it is a closed and quiet space devoted to therapy, with a noise machine outside the door. I also use earbuds, to increase confidentiality. I recommend finding a space for yourself that is comfortable and confidential as well. It can be in your home, but some clients also find other quiet, private spaces depending on their needs. When you get settled, we can begin. Second, once you are comfortable, I briefly go over some important "housekeeping" that is meant to insure that therapy is a safe and beneficial experience for you. We discuss consent, the limits of confidentiality, and the mutual work that goes into effective therapy. I also give you a space to ask me questions or share concerns. Third, it is your turn to tell me about you and your presenting concerns. This will be most of our first session. I will ask some questions; most of them will be open ended, and some might be more specific. You will have an open, non-judgmental space to share your answers. Some might be short answers, and some questions will lead to longer reflection. There are no right or wrong answers, nor are there "weird" or "normal" answers, or "good" or "bad;" everything you share is received without judgment, so you can be comfortable being honest, even when it is difficult. The more I know about your concerns, the better I can help you. Finally, we end the session by preparing for the next one. Usually we talk about scheduling, the first steps of a treatment plan and / or diagnosis, which is a flexible and ongoing process that becomes more refined as we have more sessions. I might also give you something small for "homework." There is no pressure. Usually it will be something simple to reflect on to prepare for the next session, or a simple tip to help you in the coming week with one of your presenting concerns. Hopefully, you leave the therapy space and return to your day feeling unburdened and more confident.
My therapeutic approach is centered on the needs of the client. I actively cultivate non-judgement in all areas of my own life, and I believe it is one of my biggest strengths as a therapist. I also have a strong background in well researched methods like CBT, and related modalities such as ACT and REBT, and I believe this background helps me to structure therapy and help clients genuinely move forward and break out of maladaptive patterns, rather than become stuck in rumination.
I provide therapy for anxiety, depression and mood disorders, phobias, and PTSD. I especially have a passion for working with teachers, college students and helping people heal from medical trauma. If you are stressed out with your career, especially a career in education or a helping profession, anxious about figuring out your future, exhausted with caregiving, have experienced a challenging diagnosis such as cancer, a life-changing injury, or are struggling to cope with a chronic condition, I can create a safe and empathic place for you to encounter your fear and grief and transform it to peace and acceptance. I also work with clients who are struggling with specific Anxiety Disorders, such as Panic Attacks and Phobias, and related conditions, such as OCD and PTSD. These conditions can interfere with a person's ability to live and engage with their daily life, sometimes severely, and can make a person feel as if they live in a prison or are trapped. Yet they are very treatable with talk therapy. I have a passion for helping people liberate themselves from Anxiety Disorders and related conditions so they can have fuller, more free lives. I provide therapy to adults of all ages; my approach is to listen to your unique needs and provide a safe, person-centered space to work through your goals using well researched and validated methods. I am trauma informed. I also recognize that faith and spirituality can be healing for some people, and you are welcome to bring your faith into therapy if you choose.
I use this for clients who are suffering from depression, anxiety, or other issues that are caused by maladaptive thoughts and cognitions. It is also helpful for clients in transition who are stuck or have anxiety moving forward.
This modality is helpful for clients who are in situations they cannot change. It focuses on moving past difficult emotions and used mindfulness techniques to develop greater mental flexibility and acceptance.
This is a modality that helps clients manage difficult emotions while reducing self-harm and interpersonal conflicts. We also work together to build skills to implement in daily life for greater interpersonal effectiveness and emotional management.
This is a subset of CBT that focuses primarily on how rigid core beliefs affect our functioning. It helps to restructure those rigid beliefs to make thinking more flexible and less distressing.
I have educated myself about Trauma and its affect on our bodies and minds, and I bring a Trauma-Informed mindset to all therapeutic modalities.