What excites you most about the evolving mental health landscape?
Diversity of options available for treatment. Yes, this may make it more difficult in the beginning to choose, especially if you don't know what you're looking for. However, given the many different mental health needs that exist and the uniqueness of the individual, it's great to have so many available modalities to choose from.
In what ways does your personality influence your approach to therapy?
I naturally have an inclination to look at 1. The big picture- so, a systems approach- how do all the pieces fit together to contribute to the imbalance? 2. Sense of humor- Irreverence, light heartedness, shared laughter spontaneously occur and are typically a terrific sign of healing and growth 3. Down to earth, practical, heart felt connection. We're people first, no matter the names, education, or status. We are equals in our humanity.
What does a first session with you look like?
Pleasantries and greetings... If you've never had therapy before, I like to talk about how therapy works, what you can expect from therapy and me, how to make therapy work for you, setting therapy goals, a little about me as a therapist (style, therapies I do). Of course, you can ask any questions along the way. I encourage clients to interview their therapists up front (or even before the first session) to see if they are a good fit. Otherwise, the first session is spent mostly getting to know you, what brings you to therapy and other factors about yourself (employed? in school? have a significant other? medical issues? etc...) as well as your mental health concerns (symptoms? contributing factors? supports? treatments attempted? successes?). There are more questions, but you get the idea. Usually that brings us to the end of the 1st session. If we have time, I will give you some initial feedback and support, diagnosis and recommendations for treatment. I may also give you resources to explore or a specific intervention to implement. At that point, we decide if we want to schedule a next session or if you want to wait a bit. If applicable, I may encourage you to seek a specialist (for example, a marriage counselor) for a service I cannot provide. In the first session, it's important to me that you feel comfortable, welcome, safe and that I'm listening and understanding you and your concerns.
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.
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.
Personality disorders
Personality disorders entail a maladaptive way of behaving, feeling, and thinking that deviate from societal and cultural norms. They may lead to personal distress, interpersonal issues, harmful behaviors, and legal issues. Personality disorders include paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, antisocial, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. They are treatable but not curable.
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
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.
Addiction
Regular involvement with a substance or activity in a compulsive, hard to control way that often has harmful consequences. Often refers to substance use, but can include compulsive behaviors such as sex, gambling, or shopping.
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.
Fees
$100
First Session
$110
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Attachment-Based Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Training / Certifications
CAADC
Licensure
MI, LMSW, 6801086746
Education
MSW, Social Work, Western Michigan University
Work History
Hello! I've been practicing therapist for 18 years; I've worked in community mental health agencies and clinics that treat addictions. I've worked with most populations, but I most enjoy working with adults. I have a master's degree in Clinical Social Work. One thing that I like about Social Work is the emphasis on relationships. Our relationships with others, the systems we live in and our environment effects us- this is important when considering mental health needs. Although I take my work seriously and have a solid clinical foundation, I'm also easy to talk to and genuinely care. My approach tends to be nurturing, warm and confident. I have a sense of humor and I do want you to feel welcome and understood. I have the most experience helping people recover from trauma and adult child issues. I am proficient helping people address their relationship concerns, emotional reactions, reaching their personal goals, and addressing problems with depression, anxiety, stress and anger.
Location
Remote Therapy - serving the greater Michigan area, MI