About

INSPIRED BY AUTHENTICITY

Becoming a counselor is more than a job to me. It is a calling and a privilege to sit with people, hear their stories, support them through their challenges, and empower them on their path to mental wellness. My first career was in the business world. While I enjoyed it, I often felt something was missing. What was missing was the sense of meaning and purpose that comes from having a personal impact on peoples’ lives. I took a career sabbatical to raise a family. As my children entered their teen years, I became more attuned to the challenges teens face in today’s world. I want to help people face those challenges, providing them with an opportunity to live authentically and become the person they want to be.

What interests me in teen counseling is that if people can enter counseling early, it can save them years of suffering. My goal is to work with young people and encourage them to explore their thoughts, motivations, values, and behaviors. I hope to help them transition into young adulthood with insight and coping skills for optimal mental health. My goal is to provide a space where teens feel welcomed and understood, knowing they can express their feelings, experiences, and thoughts in a confidential space. I also hope to help teens navigate the world as they grow and find their authentic voice.

Authenticity allows us to connect with one another.

To be authentic is to be courageous, vulnerable, and let your inner self be visible.

I hope that my clients feel proud they are taking steps to improve their mental health. I believe that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Going to counseling can be thought of as giving your mind the gift of health. A healthier mind can reward you with confidence, peace, motivation, and balance. I hope my clients leave feeling lighter, less burdened, and optimistic that they have the power within themselves to live authentically and cope with life’s challenges.

Work

GREAT EXPERIENCE MATTERS

I have experience counseling children, teens, emerging adults, and adults in a private practice setting. I have helped all ages deal with anxiety, depression, OCD, relationship concerns, and personal growth. Together we will create a meaningful approach individualized for you. In some sessions, we may sit and talk. Other times we may do things out of the box, including playing games, making crafts, or incorporating music in our discussions.

My counseling approach combines a Psychodynamic approach with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). A psychodynamic approach means exploring your past to see how your history brought you to where you are today. Using ACT therapy, we can explore the type of person you want to be, what types of things are meaningful to you, what you want to stand for in life. These are your values. Once you determine your values, this can provide direction and motivation to make changes. CBT involves examining your thoughts, behaviors and how these are connected to your feelings. Your culture and your unique worldview matter. Our worldview is the lens through which we see ourselves and the world. We all experience and see the world in different ways. I strive to keep your worldview at the forefront.