Though I was born in the USA, my early years were spent in Colombia, South America. As a child I was deeply affected by the contrast between the natural tropical beauty and all the poverty and depravity around me. I could not reconcile the violence and injustice I witnessed. As I grew up and began traveling around the world, I realized that so many of these people had indeed figured out ways to cope with war, violence, abuse, and injustice. I admired their resiliency. How did they do it? RESILIENCY in RELATIONSHIPS! That was the key!! With much research, studying, and face to face experience, I realized RESILIENCY in RELATIONSHIPS was LEARNED! I always thought it was something you either had or didn’t have from childhood. I was stunned to learn that failure and strife actually cultivates RESILIENCY! But there are skills to learn to make it happen, skills such as self-awareness, ability to pay attention (mindfulness), learning to grieve and let go while embracing change, learning how to have healthy relationships with others and with ourselves, and accessing positive emotions while focusing on the beauty in life. I'd love to walk with you through this process to restore hope.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Your first session is a time to get to know each other and discover what you would like to change in your life....what brings you to therapy at this time in your life? This session is to see if we are a good fit. We will go as fast or slow as you like, since you dictate the pace. At the end of the first session, I will ask you if you feel this is a good fit and you would like to move forward with weekly sessions. Again, you are in control.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My 30 years of multicultural experience have equipped me with such specialties as crisis intervention, anxiety and depression, narcissism, addictions (including prescription drugs/pain medication, pornography, etc.), sexual, emotional and physical abuse, PTSD (including sex trafficking), blended families (Including with children as young as 7 years of age), grief & loss, eating disorders, self-harm, and bipolar disorder.