How do you determine therapy goals with clients? What does that process look like?
Working with a client to determine his or her therapy goals is done in a collaborative way with a therapist. If I am that therapist, the client would work with me to determine what he wants his life to look like. For example, sometimes a client is stifled in an unhealthy relationship and cannot see the big picture of what life would look like in a healthy relationship. He may not even know what a healthy relationship is. With guidance, the client discusses and decides what a healthy relationship would be like for him and then identifies problems that are preventing that from happening. He and I would then set goals to address these stumbling blocks so that he can attain the desired outcome of a healthy relationship. Goals are basically steps to take you where you want to go.
What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
I was a social worker for many years and knew the need for counselors. I had always hoped to get specific training that allowed me to become a counselor and so I set a goal to go back to school when my children got older. Well life sometimes throws baseballs and I became sick with a rare neuromuscular disease that rendered me nearly blind. After years of adjustment, a divorce, my children growing up, and getting a guide dog I made my move. My guide dog and I trooped off to college and graduated with a Masters degree in Counseling. Cannot keep an old gal or her dog down!
What’s the most profound, insightful, or interesting thing you’ve learned as a mental health professional?
I think that one of the most insightful things I have learned in working as a mental health professional is that people have amazing resilience and determination to overcome problems and hardships even in the worst of situations. What may seem like a daunting and overwhelming problem in the beginning of therapy, often ends with the client having a much better understanding of himself and his abilities to overcome problems in general. It enables a catharsis which results in a much better understanding of the interbeing.
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.
Chronic illness
Persisting health conditions causing significant barriers to daily functioning as well as discrepancies in how society responds to disabilities. Can impact people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and lead to feelings of isolation, uncertainty, and helplessness.
Divorce & separation
Separation and divorce can trigger a range of mental health challenges, even when the split is mutually agreed upon. Prolonged challenges can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and more.
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
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.
Caregiver stress & support
Caring for a friend or family member (paid or unpaid) includes emotional support, housework, help with finances, medication management, and shopping. Can be stressful, making caregivers more vulnerable to things like anxiety, isolation, and fatigue.
Chronic illness
Persisting health conditions causing significant barriers to daily functioning as well as discrepancies in how society responds to disabilities. Can impact people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and lead to feelings of isolation, uncertainty, and helplessness.
Codependency
Involves a person sacrificing their needs to meet the needs of others. Their thoughts and actions center on a significant other, spouse, friend, or relative. Becomes an issue when relationships are unbalanced and unhealthy.
Custody issues
Often faced during separation or divorce, arrangements for child custody and support must be negotiated. At times prolonged or high-conflict, this can lead to mental health challenges like anxiety or depression among family members.
Fees
$100
First Session
$100
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Individual Session
Clientele
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Existential Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Reality Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Licensure
GA, LPC, LPC005923
Education
Masters in Education - Community Counseling Specialty, University of Tn.
Work History
My work experience has been in both social work and counseling. As a social worker I worked in the substance abuse field, in social services with pregnant women and food stamp recipients, in group homes with developmentally disabled adults, and in a residential program with teenagers with family and substance abuse problems. My totally fun job was working in the school system in the pre-kindergarten program as a family facilitator which meant I got to work with cute little 4 and 5-year-olds, and their families. Upon becoming a counselor, I worked in a forensic counseling setting within a private practice. I then spent many years as a clinician on a mobile crisis team where I did crisis work with the mentally ill, chronically mentally ill, as well as with suicidal and/or homicidal individuals and substance abusers. This meant I worked in hospitals, jails, schools, residential homes and throughout the community assessing individuals and determining what their immediate needs were. Then I would arrange appropriate treatment options. Eventually I ended up in private practice where life was much calmer!
Location
southwest, Brunswick, 31525, GA