I am a mental health clinician. I have worked in the field of mental health for 28 years. I am a retired public school educator/administrator, 48 years! I am an American Red Cross volunteer, 12 years. I volunteer in Disaster Mental Health, Services to the Armed Forces, Yellow Ribbons, as well as facilitate Reconnection Workshops for Deployed and Re-Deployed soldiers and veterans. I have been successful and quite effective in working with Addictions, Individuals, Couples, Families, school issues, Christian Counseling, and personality disorders. I enjoy my work in each of these entities. I love, love sharing in the growth and development of my clients!
The first sessions is exciting for me because we get a chance to begin together. The first session is more of a meet and greet for us. I have a few pet peeves. I begin by sharing particulars about me. I explain my definition of CONFIDENTIALITY! Confidentiality is huge for me. I eat, sleep, breathe, and bleed confidentiality! I share a few ground rules, quite comical norms! I make it clear to the client that there will be consistent homework I solicit questions from the client(s). I afford the client(s) the same opportunities that I had to share. Once all of this is completed, we began our time of work/growth together!
My greatest strengths as a provider are my empathy, honesty, knowledge, experiences, kindness, appropriate sense of humor, and my transparency.
I use it to help the client identify inaccurate and distorted thinking patterns.
I use mind-body techniques to teach patients to think about their thoughts and feelings before reacting.
It is my way of being able to approach issues holistically based on their mind, body, and spirit. I recognize clients as being uniquely created by a loving, caring, and healing God.
I facilitate couples counseling in a way that helps to develop/improve romantic relationships and resolve interpersonal conflicts.
I use Family Counseling specifically as a form of talk therapy that allows family members to develop/improve interactions and communication within the Family.