My Background
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a well-rounded background. In my early years I worked in social service settings providing support to adults with developmental and other disabilities, preschool and elementary school students, homeless families and at-risk adolescents. In keeping with my passion for human services, I completed my Bachelor of Social Work in 2001, and worked as a licensed social worker for nearly 10 years in the public sector with at-risk families and people with disabilities.
However, my ultimate goal was to obtain my degree in Counseling, which I completed in 2011 with a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. I have been actively practicing therapy for about 8 years both in community clinics and private practice. During my graduate program, I developed a strong interest in Therapeutic Guided Imagery, or Interactive Guided Imagery, a skill I have cultivated through many trainings and years of practice.
My Counseling Philosophy
I take a holistic approach to healing, recognizing that each part of our lives is connected to all the others. I consider past and present relationships, physical health, spirituality, and community connections when collaborating with you to bring balance to your life.
I bring to my practice years (well, decades) of personal life experience. I have experienced the joys of raising a family and accomplishing goals, as well as the pain of grief and loss. In addition to my training and education, I draw upon these life experiences and the wisdom I gained through my own journey of healing from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Everyone’s healing path is different, so I encourage everyone to choose their own path, in their own way, in their own time. I believe in what I do because I have personally benefitted from counseling and other healing modalities as well as witnessing my clients blossom when they apply themselves to the healing process.
I provide a safe space to meet painful issues and gently dismantle their power over your life. I help to restructure and redefine relationships that are no longer working for you. If self defeating patterns and underlying belief systems are opening the door to unwanted situations in your life, I help you rewrite that story.In addition to talk therapy, I often use a series of gentle guided meditations that may uncover the inner workings of heart and mind, to transform issues that may be too painful for words. I use a combination of art, journaling, and symbolic imagery to support and sustain the progress and insight gained during a meditative session.
I look forward to meeting you and traveling the road together as we unpack those burdens, whatever they may be, and find the way to a more authentic, free, and intentional you. I know I will learn as much from you as you do from me, and I count it an honor to share this journey with you.