What does a first session with you look like?
A first session with me is relaxed and a get to know each other session. I will ask questions about the person's interests, likes and dislikes. Finding a common ground or similarities in likes helps to build that connection and trust between the therapist and client. When there is a level of trust it's easier for a person to be able to be vulnerable and share the reasons or events that brought that person into therapy.
What do you think is the biggest barrier today for people seeking care?
One of biggest barriers I feel, that people have in seeking therapy is being vulnerable. Being vulnerable can be a very uncomfortable feeling, especially with someone that you don't know. When a person has been turned away for being vulnerable in the past, it makes it even harder for that person to be vulnerable again. That's why I do my best to make sure the person feels welcomed, heard, and acknowledged, so that person will find what they are seeking for in therapy.
How do you determine therapy goals with clients? What does that process look like?
Creating a treatment plan is a collaborative approach. Together the client and myself will discuss what the person is looking for in therapy and together create a plan that will help that person reach that goal. Together the client and I will break down that larger goal into smaller goals or steps so that goal can be achieved. As the client and I work together, we will periodically review and reflect on the goals to measure progress and make sure that goal is still what that person wants. Sometimes a goal will change as the person begins to unpack and dive into the reasons they first sought out therapy.
Specialties
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.
ADHD
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) causes a hard time focusing attention and controlling restless or impulsive behavior. People with ADHD might have emotional outbursts, be forgetful, and/or find it difficult to stay organized.
Adolescent mental health
Adolescent mental health focuses on adolescent-specific experiences including physical and cognitive development, social and environmental factors, sex, sexual identification and orientation, emotional processing, and substance use. Given the influence that parents/guardians have on adolescents, home life is a particularly important consideration.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Adoption & foster care
Adoption and foster care considerations include education on the process, integrating the new family, establishing household rules and boundaries, processing past trauma on behalf of the child, emotional health, and other adjustment procedures.
In-Network Insurance
Sana Benefits
Fees
$100
First Session
$100
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Children (5-12)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness Practices
Person-Centered Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Pastoral & Faith Based Counseling
Creative Art Therapy
Licensure
MI, LPC, 6401020257
Education
Masters Degree in Professional Counseling from Central Michigan University
Location
Remote Therapy - serving the greater Michigan area, MI