What does a first session with you look like?
During the first session, I like to get to know the issues that have led you to seek therapy along with any insight you have gained into what is helpful or not helpful for you. I want to answer any and all questions you may have about me or the process of therapy. This is a time for you to get to know a little about me and how we might work together. I want you to feel free to ask any questions and voice any opinions or concerns you may have.
What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
My path to becoming a therapist was more like a calling for me. My mother had severe mental health issues and was in and out of hospital while I was growing up. As a child, I would find ways to try to get her to feel safe enough to open to me as she would not talk to anyone about these issues. I formed a very close bond with her as I got older and really feel like I was able to help her in some small, but very rewarding, ways. I feel like being a therapist is what I was meant to do with my life.
What would be important for someone to know about working with you?
I would want someone to know that they are free to question or express any concerns while working with me. I want to know what is helpful to you and each individual is different. I want you to know that I am not easily offended and my goal is to be empathetic and helpful. I pride myself on being open-minded and keeping in touch with the problems of today's world. Lastly, I believe that laughter, even in difficult times, is healing.
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.
Domestic violence
Involves physical, sexual, or emotional abuse within the context of a family or relationship. Can happen to any gender, age, ethnicity, etc. and is often related to power dynamics and an abuse of power.
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.
Women's issues
Women’s health is regarded as the holistic being and experience of being female. This extends beyond consideration for illness and other complex conditions but to general considerations of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Issues may include female oppression, socialized gender role, female reproductive issues, motherhood, body image, divorce, and substance use.
General Expertise
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.
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.
Fees
$110
First Session
$95
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Psychoanalysis
Strength Based Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Eclectic Therapy
Family Systems Therapy
Humanistic Therapy
Integrative Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Somatic Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Training / Certifications
Certified Clinical Tele-Mental Health Provider
Licensure
OH, LISW, I.1800756
Education
Master Degree, Social Work, University of Cincinnati
Work History
I began my career by working for community-based outpatient services for mental health substance use disorders serving primarily uninsured, low-income individuals. After graduate school, I moved into administrative positions serving as director of a women's residential treatment program and clinical manager for an urban minority drug and alcohol treatment program. Since 2016 I have been working as an independent therapist treating individuals for various mental health and substance use disorders.
Location
Remote Therapist, Cincinnati, 45236, OH