(she/her)
I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida with over ten years of professional experience working primarily with clients who have experienced trauma or who have PTSD. I believe that everyone can benefit from counseling. We all have situations and phases of our lives where it's helpful to have a neutral sounding board. We can all benefit from having a person who listens and really hears what we're saying and a place we feel safe to say anything at all without fear of judgment.
There is a huge body of therapeutic knowledge, approaches and treatments available, and there is no way that any single individual could possibly know all of them!Whether you are struggling with a long-term problem or you're trying to navigate a new situation, I can provide the space and support you need as we work together toward your goals.
Our first session will be focused primarily on getting to know each other. I'll invite you to tell me about the issue or concern or question that brought you into therapy and what you are hoping to get out therapy. I'll encourage you to do most of the talking, but I'll have plenty of questions too! You are welcome to ask questions as well, to learn more about the therapy process and about my experience or my professional background. Therapy is an investment on your part, so you should be thoughtful about the therapist you select. In our first session, you should be paying attention to your instincts and your reactions as much as to the content of the conversation between us. Are we a good fit? Do you feel comfortable talking to me? Therapists are not one-size-fits-all. We are each unique and individual personalities, and your comfort level with my style of interaction and my personality really matters!
I believe that your therapy is about tailoring the approach to your needs. There is a huge body of therapeutic knowledge, approaches and treatments available! I always start with the approaches I know best and the ground where I'm most familiar and comfortable (client-centered, EMDR, IFS), but if it appears that they are not connecting for you, I will look for something that might be a better fit. I am very willing to learn something new together with you as we work toward resolving your concerns.
The passionate side of my work comes in being part of the healing work for individuals who have experienced trauma and those who have complex PTSD. So often, people come into therapy feeling broken down by habits and patterns that don't seem to make sense. We know these behaviors aren't helping us, but we can't seem to break out of them. It's frustrating and discouraging. Sometimes we know it's related to traumatic experiences we've had. Other times it's harder to see the connection to old events that seem small and distant now, but even small and distant things can be very stubborn about hanging around. We all have experienced trauma in our lives. For some, it's Trauma with a capital T, and for others, it might be trauma with a smaller t, but all trauma is impactful. We all bear wounds of one kind or another that influence what we do in the present day. Small or large, every wound feels better if we take the time to clean it out and let it heal. I have extensive experience working with dissociative disorders and with individuals who have been involved in cults or other high control situations.
Interpersonal
I provide a safe and compassionate space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I strive to blend my therapeutic skills with the needs of each individual for an approach that is uniquely tailored to you.
EMDR
I am fully trained and experienced in providing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) within a structured, trauma-informed framework.