LMFT, 10 years of experience
As a therapist, I attempt to provide a safe, supportive space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without shame, blame, guilt or judgment. I believe it's important to listen to your story, your questions, and help you as you set and reach your goals. I'll help you through teaching you about the patterns may be keeping you stuck, then applying the best approach to help you with practical tools, developing healthy and effective coping skills, challenging negative patterns, and fostering self-compassion. Ultimately, I want to help you make the positive changes you want, achieve personal and relational growth, and become your own best support and friend.
In our first session, I'll introduce myself and talk briefly about topics in the consents that are important to cover. I'll ask specific questions to get to know your history in areas of family, mental health, medical health, education and work, and relationships. And then I'll listen as you share your story of what's happening now, what problems you're facing, and what you'd like to accomplish in therapy. Our first session is a time to start to get to know each other, and I want you to feel safe and comfortable to share. I encourage clients to ask questions about me, or therapy, or interventions I may discuss. There are no stupid questions in therapy - it is a learning process.
I have been in the field of psychology for over 40 years now, either studying in my field, working in research, counseling in clinical practice, or teaching/leading as a community volunteer. I have learned how to listen to others and I've helped many people learn how to listen to themselves. I'm an avid learner in order to help my clients - I participate in trainings to treat the areas I specialize in every year - anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, addiction/codependence recovery, etc. My clients have told me they appreciate my kindness and directness, humor, insight, ability to explain complex problems in understandable ways, teaching of therapeutic tools, use of specialized interventions, such as Brainspotting, and the care I convey. I really do care about the clients I am privileged to work with.
I work well with adults ranging from their 30's onward. I've worked successfully with women who are experiencing home and work stress, relationship difficulties, boundary issues, or are trying to manage it all. I've helped men who are trying to navigate work and relationships as well. Those who are facing, or are already in retirement have special needs to bridge an entirely new world. I also work very well with clients who have lost important people or have experienced significant loss recently or in the past and need a roadmap through grief. I've specialize in addiction recovery for several decades and bridge therapy and 12-step work for those with substance use, codependence, and their family members. My clients have often tried everything to help themselves or their loved ones and are at a point where they feel stuck, overwhelmed, and anxious about the difficulties they've been attempting to solve. They are eager to improve, but don't yet have the understanding or tools needed to make their goals a reality. It's ok to not know what you need to help you - that's why you're here. Clients who are willing to learn, use tools and go through the hard but rewarding process of growth do very well with me.
1 rating with written reviews
February 15, 2025
I appreciate her active listening and compassion
I have extensive training and experience using Brainspotting with clients experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief. Brainspotting helps clients process emotions, or memories, that are overwhelming and create high levels of anxiety (fight/flight) or being stuck (freeze). If you find talking about your trauma is triggering and overwhelming, brainspotting may help processing without the need to talk through it.
I use CBT to help clients immediately begin to manage the overwhelming feelings and decisions with which many clients arrive at therapy. CBT contains the tools clients can practice outside of therapy to help them reach their goals.
ACT has helped clients manage "uninvited" change or ongoing difficult feelings, thoughts, or behaviors. I've helped clients move toward accepting their internal reactions to experiences while not avoiding facing difficult situations.
I believe helping my clients become their own best friend, advocate, and supporter is vital to maintaining the recovery clients gain while working in therapy. Many clients state they don't love themselves, and while that may be true, it has been my observation that clients don't always like themselves, and that needs to change for permanent change to take hold.