LMHC, 7 years of experience
I hear you. I see you. I’m here for you. Therapy is a sacred space—centered entirely on you. You’re placing your trust in someone to walk beside you through life’s challenges, and I honor that deeply. I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida with a Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies. Over the years, I’ve supported individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship struggles, addiction, and more. I understand the weight of competing demands and the quiet ache of feeling overwhelmed. You’re not alone. Beyond credentials, I bring a rich tapestry of life experience: I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, business owner, MBA, CPA, Air Force veteran, author, gardener, farmer, animal lover, foodie, and holistic health advocate. I’m a real person—just like you—who’s lived through transitions, losses, and growth. My approach integrates evidence-based modalities with a compassionate, faith-informed perspective to support your healing and resilience. Together, we’ll explore your strengths, uncover new insights, and build the tools you need to thrive. Whether you’re seeking clarity, comfort, or change, I offer a safe, non-judgmental space where you can be fully seen and supported. Let’s begin your journey—one step at a time.
Our first session is all about you—and I’m genuinely curious to know your story. I’ll ask thoughtful, compassionate questions to help you articulate what’s bringing you in and what you’re hoping to change or heal. These aren’t surface-level checkboxes; they’re designed to uncover the deeper patterns, root causes, and emotional layers that may be contributing to your distress. You’ll have space to speak freely, reflect, and even pause. I’ll listen intently—not just to your words, but to what’s underneath them. Together, we’ll begin to map out a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your goals, values, and strengths. My aim is for you to leave that first session feeling heard, understood, and already on the path toward clarity and relief. This is the beginning of something meaningful. You don’t have to do it alone.
I bring a unique blend of compassion, clinical precision, and problem-solving instinct to our work together. I’m deeply curious about what makes you *you*—your patterns, your pain, your resilience. With a highly analytical mind and a heart attuned to nuance, I help you uncover the root causes of your distress so we can build a path toward healing that’s both strategic and deeply personal. I won’t just listen—I’ll challenge you to expand your perspective, explore new angles, and consider possibilities you may not have seen before. Therapy with me is active, collaborative, and tailored to your needs. For example, I’m the creator of [The CHAIN Links Program](http://www.chain-links.love), a 13-week experiential journey designed for young women and girls navigating anxiety. It’s more than a book—it’s a living, breathing program that integrates evidence-based modalities with practical, heart-centered tools you DO, not just read. Whatever brings you to therapy, we’ll choose the approaches most likely to help you—and we’ll figure that out together. My work is grounded in research, shaped by experience, and always centered on YOU. Because therapy doesn’t end when the session does, what you practice between sessions determines the pace and depth of your transformation. Let’s begin the work. You’re not alone.
I also bring a holistic lens to therapy, informed by my qualifications as a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional and a deep understanding of how nutrition, gut health, and lifestyle impact emotional well-being. My journey with food and healing is both personal and professional, and I love weaving that knowledge into our work when it’s helpful to you. I hold advanced certification in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a powerful, evidence-based approach for treating trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief. But above all, I believe in tailoring therapy to you. There’s no one-size-fits-all here. You are the expert on your life, and I’m here to help you uncover the tools, insights, and healing strategies that work best for your unique path. As Dr. Seuss said: “Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.” Let’s honor that truth—and walk your journey together.
We begin with helping you to clarify your values so that you can set meaningful goals for your life. With these goals in mind, we can define objectives for treatment--and life--and explore your beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and actions. Such exploration raises awareness and is the first step in processing, healing, and moving forward.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy includes strategies and techniques to improve emotional regulation, distress tolerance, assertive communication, and mindfulness skills. We will work together to help you identify your emotions and their intensity and learn how to use techniques, such as Wise Mind or STOP (an acronym for Stop-Take a step back-Observe-Proceed with caution) for in-the-moment coping when faced with distressing emotions or situations. You will gain a greater awareness of your emotions and associated bodily sensations and learn how to self-soothe and feel better! These tools and skills will help you gain insight and clarity to resolve problems and conflicts, bringing hope and healing. The primary "dialectic" in DBT is the continuum of self-acceptance on one end of the scale and change on the other--you will discover the balance that is right for you!
We will explore the bodily sensations associated with your emotions. The vagus nerve--vagus means "wandering"-- is the 10th cranial nerve that "wanders" in the body and connects with many of your organs, including your heart, lungs, and stomach. It is responsible for the feelings of "butterflies" in your stomach when you are nervous, excited, or fearful. It is active in panic attacks. Often, bodily sensations are the first sign of emotion. It is estimated that 80% of the signals that travel the vagus nerve are initiated by the organs and travel to the brain, so its role in emotion is significant! You will learn early awareness of these sensations, enabling you to calm yourself in challenging situations and respond and act confidently. As a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, I can also help you explore nutritional strategies that may help regulate moods and improve your overall well-being.
Using Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), I have treated many clients with complex trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. ART uses rapid eye movements, voluntary image replacement, and de-escalation of bodily sensations to break the association between disturbing memories when they occur and the bodily sensations that accompany them. The goal of treatment is that when the disturbing memory occurs again, it is no longer so disturbing--or relived in the present time--because the bodily sensations once associated with it are gone. It is simply a memory of something unfortunate that happened in the past--and you are now free of that distress and can go on and live your life in the present!
Christian Counseling and scripture can be integrated with any other treatment methods offered upon request.