New to Grow
My approach to therapy is holistic and deeply personalized, recognizing that true healing involves the mind, body, and spirit. As a Christian Counselor, faith is a foundational element, providing hope, meaning, and a moral compass in the therapeutic journey. Clinically, I integrate evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to challenge unhelpful thought patterns, alongside psychodynamic techniques to explore how past experiences and relationships shape present struggles. Furthermore, I often utilize Family Systems principles to understand relationship dynamics and facilitate healthier connections. My goal is to create a space where your faith is respected and utilized as a powerful resource for growth and lasting change.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
We will start by reviewing what you are currently presenting with. This involves a compassionate conversation to better understand your thoughts, feelings, and immediate struggles around everything you want to address in therapy. We will discuss what you hope to gain from our work. We will clearly define your personal goals, clarifying what lasting change and success look like to you. These goals will serve as our roadmap. We will engage in a thoughtful intake process, where I ask questions about your background, relationships, and history. This deep initial exploration helps us uncover context and past experiences—even matters you may not think relate to your current issues—which often hold the keys to understanding present patterns. By the end of the first session, you will walk away with a clear understanding of our process, and I will have a rich context to begin formulating a personalized approach tailored to your unique needs.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My therapeutic approach is distinguished by its holistic, integrated nature and systemic consideration. What truly sets me apart is my extensive background across social work, foster care, juvenile justice, and child welfare, giving me a seasoned, systemic expertise in complex family dynamics, trauma processing, and parenting support across all age groups. Furthermore, my experience co-chairing a church counseling ministry makes me uniquely qualified to offer sensitive and informed care for church hurt and spiritual trauma, providing a safe space for reconciliation and healing. With a focus on deep exploration and understanding the root causes of distress, I help clients foster long-term healing rather than just surface-level relief.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I specialize in walking alongside individuals and families navigating complex emotional and relational challenges. I commonly help clients with anxiety, depression, and significant life transitions, providing tools and insight to move forward. A particular focus of my practice is addressing relationship issues, including dynamics that feel stuck or strained. Given my extensive background in the faith community, I offer a sensitive and informed approach to church hurt and trauma processing, providing a safe space to reconcile pain, faith, and healing. No matter the struggle, my focus is on providing compassionate, faith-centered, and clinically informed care.
Christian Counseling
As a Christian Counselor, my practice views faith not just as a background context, but as an active, powerful resource for healing. We will explore biblical truths and spiritual disciplines to provide hope and meaning, integrating your faith seamlessly into your therapeutic journey. This approach offers a framework for forgiveness, reconciliation, and purpose, grounding your emotional and mental health in a strong spiritual foundation.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a practical, goal-oriented approach focused on the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We will work together to identify and challenge negative or unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to anxiety and depression. By replacing cognitive distortions with balanced, realistic perspectives, you will gain tangible tools to shift your emotional reactions and make lasting positive changes in your daily life.
Psychodynamic
Psychodynamic therapy dives deeper into how your past experiences, particularly in early life and with important caregivers, continue to shape your present-day emotions and relationship patterns. We will explore the root causes of current distress, helping you uncover unconscious motives and recurring emotional scripts. This insightful process leads to profound self-awareness, allowing you to break free from old, repetitive patterns that no longer serve you.
Family Therapy
I view the individual as part of a larger, interconnected system. In Family Therapy, we focus on improving communication, setting healthy boundaries, and understanding the relational roles within your family unit. By addressing the system as a whole, we can reduce conflict, increase emotional connection, and help all members move toward a healthier, more balanced dynamic. This approach is beneficial even in individual sessions as we explore the impact of your family history on your current life.