“Reaching out for help is not always easy, and I strive to create a safe, supportive relationship where you can identify underlying thoughts and patterns holding you back from living the life you want.”
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
I have always been drawn to others’ stories, with a natural curiosity about why people do what they do. In high school, I took a psychology class and from that point forward, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that involved helping people. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling, I worked primarily in community mental health. Eventually, I obtained a position in the family court and my focus shifted to forensically-informed work. For two decades, I provided court-connected mediation and evaluative services to help parents and the court resolve custody and parenting time issues. I have since transitioned to private practice, which allows me to work independently and continue to use my skills to make a positive difference in people’s lives.
What should someone know about working with you?
I truly believe we are all resilient and have the internal resources to overcome life's challenges; at times, we just need some support and guidance. Reaching out for help is not always easy, and I strive to create a safe, supportive relationship where you can identify underlying thoughts and patterns holding you back from living the life you want. I offer compassionate, customized care to meet your needs, and we will work together to establish goals based on what you want to change in your life. I use a combination of therapeutic approaches and techniques, including person-centered, solution-focused, internal family systems, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based stress reduction. With some of these approaches, we may set smaller goals to give you an opportunity to practice new skills between sessions. Throughout this process, I encourage active feedback to make sure you receive the treatment that is best for you.
What are you most excited about within the evolving mental health landscape?
I am hopeful and encouraged by the increased attention to mental health awareness and reducing the stigma attached to mental health issues. My hope is the shift toward prioritizing mental health will continue as we all realize taking care of ourselves mentally and emotionally is just as important as taking care of ourselves physically. The evolving telehealth platforms play a significant role in increasing access to mental health care, and I am excited to see more people have the opportunity to work with therapists who may have otherwise not been available to them.
“I offer compassionate, customized care to meet your needs, and we will work together to establish goals based on what you want to change in your life.”