New to Grow
I have been a counselor for over 25 years, and have worked with individuals, couples, and families around a variety of issues. I am a Christian, and I look to God's Word as the basis of truth, identity, and worth, as well as for practical guidance on how to live in joy and peace even in the midst of suffering. Personally, I am a pastor's daughter, I have been married almost 22 years, and I have 4 children, all of whom are currently teenagers. I love animals and music and spending time with friends and family.
In our first session, I will spend some time just getting to know you by asking questions and listening to whatever you feel comfortable sharing. I will ask you about the goals you have in coming to counseling, and what you hope to get from working together. It's my goal to make sure you feel heard and at ease, and at the end of the first session, it will be entirely up to you whether you feel we are a good fit and want to continue to a second session. I believe that the relationship between the counselor and client should be collaborative, and that it is essential to success in therapy.
I have a calm personality and I am easy-going, so people have often said that I am easy to talk to and help them to feel comfortable and less anxious very quickly. I am down to earth and offer practical guidance. I help people feel the love of Jesus in the way I listen and point to God's Word during suffering and difficulties.
I very much enjoy working with college students, and helping them navigate struggles related to identity, relationships, homework, and career choices. I also very much enjoy working with the elderly around loneliness, depression, and loss. I enjoy working with both women and men around stress and anger management, issues of spirituality, and relationship issues. My ideal clients are Christians who appreciate the use of Scripture and prayer in sessions.
Christian Counseling
I've found that it is easy to get caught up in lies that we tell ourselves about our worth, our guilt, our identity, and our relationships. I help clients replace those lies with the truths of the Bible, that point us to the love of Jesus, forgiveness, our purpose, and guidelines about how to love and live with others.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in a way that fits with a Christian perspective, helping clients stay grounded in their faith and their values. We work on recognizing difficult emotions and thoughts without getting stuck in them. We also work on accepting suffering and leaning into the truths and comforts of God's Word to move through that suffering.