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 am not going to tell you whether you are right or wrong. There is no judgement. My job is to help you evaluate yourself. I ask questions to make you think. I provide another perspective when you are feeling stuck. You are in charge.
In what ways have your personal experiences influenced your work with your clients?
I learned a lot about myself in grad school. Not all of it was good. I learned about how my life was affected by the people in it, especially as a child, and how my family played a huge role in everything that lead up to right where I was. I was angry. I had to figure out how to address the feelings that I felt. It was not easy. Once you are aware, that is it, you are aware. It does not go away. You have to find closure. If not with other's then definitely within yourself. Once I realized that I was a product of circumstances, I was able to redefine myself. I was able to make choices based on the new knowledge I had. Better choices. It was life changing.
How do you determine therapy goals with clients? What does that process look like?
Typically, client's come in with a particular goal in mind. I ask clarifying questions about the goal, which usually leads to an even more important goal to work towards. Once the goal is established, I am the coach as well as the cheerleader. Can you change a goal? Absolutely! It is ok to change your mind. That is one belief that I am a stickler on; you can change your mind. I know there is something to be said for sticking to your word and pushing through the hard stuff; there is also something to be said to put your own emotional health and well being before some strong held principles you may hold yourself to that really are preventing you from feeling complete.
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.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a condition that is precipitated by a perceived terrifying event. This event need not occur directly to the person but may happen vicariously—having seen something terrible happen to another person. The condition may last months or years while symptoms include ruminating thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety when triggered, and potential substance abuse in attempt to cope.
Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic disorders are characterized by a disconnect from reality that stems from maladaptive thinking and perceptions. Primary symptoms include delusions and hallucinations. Common psychotic disorders include brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, paraphrenia, psychotic disorder due to a medical condition, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, and substance-induced psychotic disorder.
General Expertise
Relationship Issues
Refers relationship issues with a partner or spouse. Can include issues related to relationship distress, relationship satisfaction, communication, intimacy, etc.
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.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by persistent instability in relationships, extreme emotional reactions, and chronic fear of abandonment. People with this may also tend to be moody, experiencing a lot of high highs and low lows.
Attachment issues
Children that experience parents and/or guardians that are avoidant, ambivalent, or resistant from an early age, may develop attachment issues. This can manifest as difficulty forming or maintaining friendships, romantic relationships and empathetic bonds throughout life, as well as other issues.
Fees
$100
First Session
$120
Couples Therapy
$100
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Couples Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Eclectic Therapy
Training / Certifications
Motivational Interviewing
Licensure
WA, LMHC, LH61025495
Education
Masters Degree in Clinical Counseling, City University of Seattle
Work History
I primarily work in community mental health. I currently specialize in outpatient competency restoration. I work with the forensics population and find it incredibly challenging and rewarding at the same time. In other areas of counseling, I provide individual therapy services as well as couples counseling. I enjoy hearing stories of What Happened, and then evaluating those stories to assist people in unfolding the truth(s), perspective(s), and beliefs that make them feel they are not quite where they want, or need to be. A problem, is not a problem, until it is a problem. There are typically solutions, occasionally there are not solutions. In the times that there are no reasons; then I validate that with you and help you with adjusting to the uncomfortable feelings that have to be worked through, to be a better version of you.
Location
Remote Therapy, Tacoma, 98404, WA