How does collaboration with other providers play into your work?
When a client I am working with is seeing other providers as well, I like to keep in touch with them to make sure we are all on the same page and not providing conflicting treatment or advice. It can often be confusing to clients when one provider is suggesting to try a new skill, but their other provider is telling them to do the complete opposite!
What does success look like in therapy? How will a client know that they are making progress?
Success in therapy does not always mean life will be perfect after treatment. As I tell my clients, I cannot make it so that they will never have depression, anxiety, or any other mental health condition again in their life. Our goal is that the next time those things come up for them, they are able to take a step back and say " I know what this is, I've been here before, and I can handle it." When this happens and they are able to manage life's stressors and problems on their own, that is success.
What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
I originally wanted to work for the FBI as a behavioral analyst, but a knee injury prevented those dreams from coming true. I decided to pursue my master's degree in counseling, so that I could have greater career options over a degree in forensic psychology. I ended up falling in love with being a counselor, and with the specialties of counseling I originally had no interest in!
Specialties
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.
Adolescent mental health
Adolescent mental health focuses on adolescent-specific experiences including physical and cognitive development, social and environmental factors, sex, sexual identification and orientation, emotional processing, and substance use. Given the influence that parents/guardians have on adolescents, home life is a particularly important consideration.
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.
Behavioral Issues
Behavioral disorders involve a pattern of disruptive behaviors that cause problems in school, at home, and in social situations. Can include hyperactivity, impulsivity, defiant behavior, chronic patterns of aggression, defiance, disruption, and/or hostility.
General Expertise
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.
Academic challenges
Concerns that impact school performance or academic life. Can include perfectionism, bullying, financial stress, academic transitions, test anxiety, balancing school with other responsibilities, discrimination, or harassment.
ADHD
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) causes a hard time focusing attention and controlling restless or impulsive behavior. People with ADHD might have emotional outbursts, be forgetful, and/or find it difficult to stay organized.
Bullying
An ongoing effort to harm someone, physically or emotionally, based on perceived weakness. Commonly associated with childhood but can occur at any age. Could also take the form of sexual harassment or gossip.
Fees
$90
Family Therapy
$90
Couples Therapy
$90
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Couples Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Motivational Interviewing
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Training / Certifications
Nationally Certified Counselor
Trained in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Licensure
PA, LPC, PC012712
Education
Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Indiana University of Pennsylvania