What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
Growing up in a family plagued by the painful challenges of addiction and mental illness, I was drawn to this field because I wanted to learn how to help families like mine. I believe I am well-suited to be a therapist because I am able to relate to and convey compassion and understanding easily to my clients. I have worked in a wide variety of settings, including community agencies, schools, jails, and private practice. I have specialized training in trauma-certified cognitive behavioral therapy, school counseling, play therapy, and art expression techniques. I believe that I have a wide skill set that helps me tailor my approach to the needs and personalities of the clients I am working with.
What would be important for someone to know about working with you?
I will start therapy by answering any questions that the client may have and thoroughly explain the client-counselor relationship and the process of therapy. I try to be as comprehensive as possible during the initial session so that I can develop a complete picture of the client's world and fully understand what is bringing them to therapy. I am a strengths-based, goal-oriented therapist; together, the client and I will form goals and a road map of where they would like therapy to take them. Along the way, I may assign homework or suggest readings or resources to help the client enhance their progress toward their goals. I enjoy working with young children, adolescents, adults, and couples. I specialize in treating clients with anxiety and depression, addiction issues, codependency and relationship issues, emotional regulation issues, trauma, life adjustment issues, occupational issues, school-based problems, peer issues, and family problems.
What excites you most about the evolving mental health landscape?
I am most excited about learning and implementing new and evidence-based techniques to help children and adolescents make sense of their ever-evolving worlds through the use of mindfulness, coping skills training, child-friendly CBT approaches, play therapy techniques, and art expressive techniques.
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.
Child mental health
Children can be impacted by things like anxiety, depression, ADHD and more. However, they can be difficult to identify because kids aren’t always able to communicate effectively. Untreated, child mental health issues can have long-term effects.
Life transitions
Positive and negative change can be difficult, including things like moving, breaking up, adjusting to parenthood, or changing careers. It’s normal to feel stressed, however, life transitions can inhibit people from living healthy lifestyles.
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
Careers
Designed to help people choose, change, or leave a career at any stage of life. Careers are often wrapped up in people’s perceived identity, therefore, any change can cause anxiety and/or depression.
Work Stress
Workplace issues are a common source of stress and can include interpersonal conflict, communication problems, gossip, harassment, discrimination, low motivation and job satisfaction, performance issues, and poor job fit.
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.
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.
Fees
$110
First Session
$125
Family Therapy
$125
Couples Therapy
$100
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Couples Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Children (5-12)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Existential Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Play Therapy
Training / Certifications
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Licensure
FL, LMHC, MH16001
Education
M.S., Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Psychology, Troy University
Work History
I graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor's degree in Sociology and a minor in Behavioral Healthcare. I received my master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Psychology from Troy University. I have been in the mental health field for over 10 years and have worked in a wide variety of settings including community mental health agencies, schools, telehealth, nonprofits, mobile crisis, and private practice. I specialize in trauma and am certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). I am also a Certified School Counselor and am trained in treating school-based issues. In addition, I am currently working on my Registered Play Therapy (RPT) certification. Some of my specialty areas include: child and adolescent issues, post traumatic stress, mood disorders, anxiety and depression, occupational issues, communication issues, family and relationship problems, sexual and physical abuse, codependency, addictions, and life transitions.
Location
822 62nd St Cir E, Suite 101, Bradenton, 34208, FL