If there was one thing you wish people knew about the therapy experience who might be hesitant to try it, what would that be?
For healing to occur and a change in functioning to begin and be sustained, the understanding and processing of prior life experiences and subsequent difficult emotions is often a key. The release and freedom that accompanies this discovery far outweigh any surmounting apprehension and fears. People are stronger than they realize. For those who have experienced trauma, their survival is evidence of how strong and courageous they really are.
What would be important for someone to know about working with you?
Because I am compassionate, I care deeply about clients’, their hurting and healing, and the progress they make as they go through counseling. Although it may seem impossible to believe that a “stranger” really cares about someone they just met, I truly care about the clients with whom I work. This has been a prevalent quality since early childhood and others have said they remember me taking up for the “underdog.” I also recognize clients’ time is valuable as is my own, so there is an expectation that meaningful work will occur during the session and outside of the counseling hour. Experience with clients shows that expanding knowledge and practicing what is learned are critical to making improvements, therefore sharing of educational information and referencing specific books related to client's particular struggles are part of my counseling approach. Clients who consistently achieve their goals discuss recommended readings and process assignments completed between appointments during sessions.
Specialties
Depression
Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean nervousness, worry, or self-doubt. Anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that entails excessive, repeated bouts of worry, anxiety, and/or fear.
Relationship Issues
Refers relationship issues with a partner or spouse. Can include issues related to relationship distress, relationship satisfaction, communication, intimacy, etc.
Loss/Grief
Grief is a reaction to an emotionally significant loss and often comes with symptoms of depression or anxiety. These symptoms can remain intense and last for a long time after a loss, making it difficult to move forward with a healthy lifestyle.
Trauma
Trauma is the result of experiencing a perceived, extremely distressful event. Although the stress threshold for each person differs, meaning that each person considers and experiences trauma differently, it is an event that tops one’s threshold. It exceeds one’s ability to cope or emotionally process. Symptoms may include shock, anxiety, confusion, hopelessness, feeling disconnected, mood swings, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.
General Expertise
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is the degree to which a person feels confident, valuable, and worthy of respect. Feeling low self-esteem can influence overall well-being and be linked to anxiety and/or depression.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety or social phobia is fear of social situations or a fear of interacting with people other than close friends and family. Social anxiety can be persistent, intense, and debilitating, greatly affecting daily life.
Abuse/Survivors of abuse
Abuse includes any significant mistreatment along the lines of psychical, emotional, sexual, verbal, and neglect. Survivors of abuse may experience negative thoughts and feelings, flashbacks, distrust of others, social withdrawal, self-harm, and increased likelihood of developing mental health and substance abuse issues.
Anger management
It's normal to experience anger at times, but for some, it becomes so frequent, intense, or difficult to control that it negatively affects their life. Anger management is a structured therapeutic approach toward reducing one’s anger to a point where more appropriate coping and/or conflict management skills are used. Beliefs and thoughts leading toward anger outbursts are explored while healthy coping and interpersonal skills are put into practice.
Communication issues
Source of communication challenges in circumstances and relationships that can have a negative impact on mental health. Misunderstandings and misinterpretations often lead to arguments in personal, platonic, or professional relationships.
Fees
$175
First Session
$150
Family Therapy
$150
Couples Therapy
$135
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Individual Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Mindfulness Practices
Strength Based Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Bibliotherapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Imago Relationship Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Reality Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Training / Certifications
EMDR Training I & II
Licensure
LA, LPC, 2016
LA, LMFT, 356
TX, LPC, 67981
Education
MA, Psychology with emphasis on Counseling, December 1994, McNeese State University
BS, Marketing & Management, Psychology Minor, 1984, McNeese State University
Work History
Over the past 25 years, I have provided individuals, couples, and families opportunities for improving life satisfaction by addressing issues around relationships, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and anger and stress management. The first step with clients is to complete a thorough psychosocial interview. During the initial appointment, clients share certain aspects of their life, personal strengths, and reasons for counseling, as well as ask questions they may have about counseling. My approach to counseling, which is shared with clients during this appointment, is adapted based on the client’s needs and identified goals. From this point, we work together to learn alternative ways of coping, increase awareness and understanding, break problematic patterns, and strengthen functioning.
Location
522 Clarence Street, Lake Charles, 70601, LA