LPC, 8 years of experience
New to Grow
As a mental health counselor, I am committed to helping individuals and couples learn how to recover from the struggles that life creates. My work focuses on Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Neurodivergence, and many other issues. I believe in taking a collaborative approach to helping clients reach their goals by utilizing various modalities in order to meet clients where they are in their personal journey.
During our first session, we will review intake paperwork, discuss limits of confidentiality and explore informed care. Even though I preview any materials you complete before the first session, I like to create a space for you to share your thoughts about what is most important for me to know. I often follow that up with questions that come to mind that will better assist me with helping you develop a treatment plan and therapeutic goals so that you may have the best possible outcomes during your therapeutic journey.
Most clients say that when working with me they feel seen, understood, and heard. I do my best to provide a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere in which clients can become comfortable and more open to exploring the deeper root of their issues. I believe that therapeutic work, if done right can be difficult, challenging, and often painful. However, this is a part of the healing process and often occurs because issues are being faced that have historically been avoided or suppressed. I provide support and encouragement through this process.
Clients working with me should be able and willing to participate in sessions through virtual/telehealth services. My clients may also have a desire to complete outside work which will meet their preferred learning style including handouts, workbooks, or written text/audiobooks. Some frequently addressed issues with my clients have included grief work, processing past trauma, understanding neurodivergence, exploring gender identity and sexual orientation, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders.
The use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) assist clients to build psychological flexibility; including the ability to stay present, accept difficult experiences, and take committed action guided by personal values. Clients will learn through acceptance by making room for painful thoughts, feelings, and sensations instead of suppressing or avoiding them. Clients will address cognitive defusion by learning to see thoughts as mental events, not absolute truths. Clients will increase their ability to be present by focusing on the here and now with openness, awareness, and curiosity. Clients will work to develop a “self-as-context by learning to be an observer of thoughts and feelings, not defined by them. Clients will improve their sense of core values by identifying what matters most and using those values as a compass for action. Lastly, clients will work toward becoming committed to action by taking steps aligned with values, even when uncomfortable.
The use of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) assist clients to develop cognitive thinking capabilities to develop a since of “both” as well as “and” thinking in contrast of “either/or” thinking. This is accomplished by incorporating mindfulness to help you stay present and observe your thoughts and feelings, by surfing the waves of emotion. Clients will develop interpersonal effectiveness skills by learning self-assertion, boundary setting, and maintaining self-respect. Clients will improve emotional regulation skills which will assist with developing strategies to understand, experience, and manage emotions more effectively. Lastly, clients will increase their understanding of distress tolerance by obtaining an understanding of how to experience life’s challenges without emotional responses that may make individual situations and circumstances worse.
Gender-affirming therapy is a therapeutic model that emphasizes affirming a client’s gender identity. This includes supporting the client in questioning the concept of their own gender and coping with related challenges. This is accomplished by exploring multiple facits and impacts of trauma, shame, depression, self-harm, violence, sexuality, medical treatment, and social stigma. Clients may also process the significant stress and impact of “coming out” in the workplace, with friends, with family, and society as a whole in order to feel secure in their identity while developing and understanding more about their true authentic self.
The use of Trauma-Informed Therapy assist the client to develop a deeper understanding of trauma and the nature of the impact on the human psyche. Through focus on the physical, psychological, and emotional safety of the client, this model assist survivors to rebuild a sense of self control and empowerment. Clients will gain understanding of the various types of trauma which may include: one time events, trauma from repeated and prolonged stressors, complex trauma stemming from exposure to multiple traumatic events, vicarious trauma, and the impact of generational or historical injustices. Key principles of this therapeutic model include: safety first, trustworthiness and transparency, empowerment and choice, cultural sensitivity, avoiding re-traumatization, understanding the impact of trauma, collaboration and coordination, and self-care.