(she/her)
I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the states of Florida and Nevada. I have been working in the field since 2009. I graduated from Chapman University in California with a Master's degree in Psychology and an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy. I have specific extensive experience working with individuals suffering from PTSD. I am also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP). I'm not afraid to stand beside those who are dealing with the effects of trauma, and I'm open to helping you work through those feelings. I take a nervous system deactivation approach to trauma work that is intuitive and effective along with addressing the cognitive side of trauma. I believe that my role is to be completely present during the therapeutic process, serving as a guide and facilitator for my clients. I strive to create the safest space possible for people to express and process their feelings while learning how to better cope with stress. I want to instill hope and remind my clients that, no matter how hard life feels, they aren't alone and there will always be a goal to work toward and a brighter future to seek.
We will discuss your concerns to be addressed, your history, and your goals. I prioritize creating a safe, non-judgemental environment in therapy to help clients open up and express their feelings. I may ask some questions to get clarification and to better understand my clients in the context of family, friends, work and community.
Because I have personal experience with anxiety, it naturally drew me to want to work with clients who struggle in that area. I have worked primarily with trauma and anxiety throughout my career so I also feel comfortable with those areas. I also have a number of tools I've compiled to address any issues that may arise with regard to trauma and anxiety. Another thing I bring to the therapy environment is a willingness to show parts of myself, as needed. I am not afraid to carefully and thoughtfully share some of my own experiences as a way to connect to my clients so they know they aren't alone. I also hope to instill hope that they can one day live in the peace and happiness they so badly want.
I specialize in working with minority clients, specifically Black-American clients, as that is also my ethnicity. I see the generational trauma and the systemic racism/descrimination that occurs in our country and how it negatively impacts our people. So this is something that is deeply important for me, to reach and work with other Black American clients. I'm also in the process of educating myself more around LGBTQ+ issues so that I can be a better support to the clients I see who are a part of the community. Even as I'm learning, I will always be an ally and ready to work with clients who identify as queer or LGBTQ+. Please know that you will always have a safe space in my therapy room.
CBT will allow clients to understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It will teach them to modify unhealthy thought patterns.
This is my specialty and helps clients understand how to process their trauma and release the feelings around it. Clients will also learn mindfulness and nervous system deactivation techniques.
I have recently learned interventions in this method and I find it relevant to anxiety treatment. It embraces a non judgmental view of our feelings as well as mindfulness.