Qualifications
I have a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Argosy University, whose program is approved by the (APA) American Psychological Association. I completed an internship in counseling psychology, approved by the Washington State Licensing Board, at Good Samaritan Behavioral Outpatient Services in Puyallup, WA. I am licensed as a mental health counselor, substance use disorder professional and a National Board-Certified and registered Clinical Hypnotherapist in Washington State. I am a member of the American Counseling Association.
Background
Prior to joining Counseling Services for Wellbeing, my past 13 years of work experience have been in the community mental health organizations, community work releases, community homeless shelter as well as the state mental health inpatient hospital, Western State Hospital. I am trained and experienced in doing mental health and substance use treatment for individuals as well as group therapy with adolescents and adults (15 years and over).
Areas of Proficiency/Clinical Approach
My areas of proficiency include addressing issues related to anxiety, depression, trauma, phobias, grief/loss, and life transitions. My clinical approach is based primarily on humanistic psychotherapy in an integrative holistic framework. I believe that the relationship between therapist and client is the first key to therapeutic change. The therapeutic relationship serves as a vehicle or context in which the process of psychological growth is fostered. I have found that the central problems people face is embedded in anxiety over loneliness, isolation, despair, and ultimately death. Together, we will work by systematically considering the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. The most central idea in my work is to help you access your inner resources to resolve the issues that originally brought you to therapy. The goals of treatment are to help my clients
unfreeze frozen harmful patterns and move toward more freedom, more choice, and more joy in their life. I believe in the inherent strength of every individual. As a humanistic therapist, I do the best possible to create a therapeutic relationship that is warm and accepting and that trusts that the client’s inner drive is to actualize in a healthy direction with the absence of telling you what is best for you. I encourage the emphasis of the client’s freedom of choice and potential for meaningful change. My style is to initiate openness, empathy and honesty, reflective listening in an authentic manner via acceptance, genuineness, and deep understanding of the issues from the client’s point of view.