New to Grow
Hello — a little about me: I’ve been married for 28 years and have three children (ages 27–37). My entire career has been in the helping field with extensive trauma experience. I’ve been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2004, am a Registered Play Therapist, hold a Sand Tray Therapy credential, and am trained in EMDR. I work with clients from adolescents to adults who are struggling with trauma and abuse. Through evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches, I help clients heal, build resilience, improve relationships, and regain a greater sense of safety, empowerment, and well-being. I pursue ongoing training to refine my skills and learn the newest techniques to better serve my clients.
What to expect in our first session: Warm welcome and brief introductions to build rapport. Review of confidentiality, limits, and consent. Completion of intake paperwork and brief clinical history (presenting concerns, trauma/abuse history, medical/medication info). Assessment of current symptoms, safety (risk/harm), and immediate needs. Discussion of your goals and what you hope to achieve in therapy. Overview of recommended approaches (e.g., CBT, EMDR, sand tray, trauma‑informed therapy) and an initial treatment plan. Opportunity for you to ask questions and share preferences or concerns. Agreement on next steps: session frequency, homework, and scheduling. Typical session length is 50–60 minutes.
My therapeutic approach and methods include but not limited to: Prescriptive, trauma‑informed care: I choose interventions based on each client’s needs rather than adhering to a single model. Evidence‑based trauma interventions: EMDR for processing traumatic memories; TF‑CBT (Trauma‑Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for children, adolescents, and caregivers to address trauma symptoms and build coping skills; CBT for adolescents and adults to identify and reframe unhelpful thoughts, reduce symptoms, and develop practical coping strategies. Sand tray and play therapy for nonverbal expression and healing, especially effective with younger clients. Practical skills and safety work: grounding, stabilization, emotion regulation, and relapse prevention are integrated early to promote safety and readiness for deeper work. Collaborative goal setting: clients help shape the plan; progress is routinely reviewed and adapted. What makes me unique / relevant experience: Over two decades of clinical experience focused on trauma and abuse, including complex and developmental trauma. Broad, specialized training—licensure since 2004 plus credentials in play therapy, sand tray, EMDR trained, and TF‑CBT—enables flexible, age‑appropriate, and evidence‑based care. Commitment to ongoing education keeps interventions current and effective. A strengths‑based, compassionate style that balances clinical rigor with warmth and practical accountability. Together, this prescriptive, multimodal approach helps clients feel safe, understood, and empowered to heal, restore functioning, and improve relationships.
My ideal client is a motivated individual who is ready to make meaningful change and committed to the process. They bring consistent effort, maintain accountability, and follow through on agreed actions without poor follow-up. They have a growth mindset, welcome constructive feedback, and prioritize results over comfort. Reliable, proactive, and resilient, they take responsibility for their progress, set clear goals, and persistently work to overcome obstacles until sustainable improvement is achieved.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help youths and adults identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Through collaborative goal-setting, skill-building (e.g., cognitive restructuring, exposure, problem-solving, and behavioral activation), and age-appropriate homework, I teach practical strategies to manage symptoms, improve functioning, and prevent relapse. I tailor interventions to each client's developmental stage, strengths, and cultural context and track progress to adjust treatment as needed