What would be important for someone to know about working with you?
I bring expertise in working with adults and adolescents on a variety of anxiety concerns, depression, and grief which can relate to losses of many kinds such as death, divorce or separation, career, and physical ability. I work with couples who want to resolve conflict, improve communication and intimacy, deal with infidelity, learn how to argue, and better understand one another.
What is your style/approach to therapy?
My approach is holistic with attention to the mental /emotional self, the physical self, and the spiritual self. I am accepting, validating and encouraging. I engage with a solution focused, positively oriented work style. I also find looking at meaning and purpose supports resolution of some concerns.
What do you view as a key component of the therapeutic relationship?
The most important component is the relationship between the client and myself. Research has found that when the relationship is strong positive outcomes result. I provide genuine support and respect with a thorough understanding of concerns. I have been successful in finding paths for improvement.
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.
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.
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.
Couples
Provides couples therapy/counseling
General Expertise
Relationship Issues
Refers relationship issues with a partner or spouse. Can include issues related to relationship distress, relationship satisfaction, communication, intimacy, etc.
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.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety or social phobia is fear of social situations or a fear of interacting with people other than close friends and family. Social anxiety can be persistent, intense, and debilitating, greatly affecting daily life.
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.
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.
Fees
$150
First Session
$120
Family Therapy
$120
Couples Therapy
$100
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Couples Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Strength Based Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Licensure
IL, LMFT, 166.001444
NM, LMFT, 0139621
NV, LMFT, 0941
Education
Oregon State University
University of Nevada Reno
Work History
I bring 24 years of experience as a therapist and 16 of these years in behavioral health leadership. I have taught at several universities and trained new therapists. I work with adults, adolescents, couples and families. I am energized by this profession and look forward to many more years. My treatment philosophy is holistic, systemic and client centered. I utilize a holistic picture including consideration of mind, body and spirit. I involve clients in their treatment planning. I am responsive to individual needs respecting preferences and life experience. Along with my client, I address the current issues and look at how to resolve these.