If there was one thing you wish people knew about the therapy experience who might be hesitant to try it, what would that be?
I wish that people knew that therapy is not how it is portrayed on television. Many movies and shows make fun of or mock the therapy field, usually by making therapists look and sound like they are flighty. The truth is I am just like my clients, and I treat them as the equals that they are. Therapy sessions are what the client makes them - after all, it is their time to express themselves and talk about anything they need to without bias, judgment, or fear.
How does collaboration with other providers play into your work?
If a person is seeing me for therapy and they bring up another issue I am not proficient in treating I will refer them to someone who can help with those issues. An example would be if someone revealed that they had an eating disorder such as anorexia; I am not specially trained to work on this diagnosis and if I tried it would not be ethical. I collaborate with other providers to make sure that my clients receive the best care possible!
How do you determine therapy goals with clients? What does that process look like?
I ask my client to tell me what they want to work towards, and then we develop steps to get to that goal. So if the goal is to reduce worry, then the first step would be identifying the things or events that cause the worry. Then, together we explore ways to cope with each situation, which reduces the worry.
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.
Bipolar disorder
Characterized by alternating symptoms of depression and mania. During more extreme episodes, depression may lead to the point of suicidal ideation and attempts while extreme bouts of mania are marked by impulsive behavior, lack of sleep, elevated esteem, and even psychosis.
Communication issues
Source of communication challenges in circumstances and relationships that can have a negative impact on mental health. Misunderstandings and misinterpretations often lead to arguments in personal, platonic, or professional relationships.
Coping Skills
Coping skills are tools and techniques one can learn, practice, and use to handle difficult emotions, decrease stress, and establish or maintain a sense of internal order.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness Practices
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Attachment-Based Therapy
Bibliotherapy
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Compassion-Focused Therapy
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Gestalt Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Multicultural Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Reality Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Licensure
FL, LMHC, MH15114
Education
Master of Arts, Mental Health Counseling, Webster University
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Columbia College
Location
FL