If you could pick one movie or book that influenced your approach to therapy, what would it be and why?
Good Will Hunting. I think Robin Williams character was spot on and responded to Will with compassion and empathy but wasn't afraid to help explore deeper more meaningful issues that were driving forces.
In what ways do your life philosophy and treatment philosophy overlap?
I try to approach life in a similar way that I approach treatment. I first try to balance myself, using more of a cognitive behavioral approach, so I can understand the problem, own it and then look for alternatives to find balance. I then believe in not running from my pain. I view my emotions as my souls fingerprint, and try to better understand myself by examining the emotions I feel. Also, I try to remain hopeful. that life will get better by owning the way I exist.
In what ways have your personal experiences influenced your work with your clients?
I have a large history of experiences in my own life that allow me to be able to relate to those coming to see me in a very human way. I like to collaborate with my clients and work as a team to help a person find peace and balance within themselves in the face of their pain an suffering.
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.
Mood disorders
Mood disorder is a broad term used to include the different types of depressive and bipolar disorders, all of which affect mood. With a mood disorder, your moods may range from extremely low to extremely high or irritable.
Panic attacks & panic disorder
Panic attacks are acute conditions in which one experiences an intense bout of anxiety out of seemingly nowhere. This oftentimes stems from a perceived rather than actual threat. Symptoms may include heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, and shortness of breath. Panic disorder involves regular frequency of panic attacks (two or more) with a fear of experiencing more in the future.
Sex Addiction
Though not a formally recognized disorder in the DSM-5, sex addiction is characterized as an intimacy disorder in which an individual engages in a compulsive pattern of repetitive behavior directed toward sexual gratification that may lead to negative role, social, safety, or legal consequences. It is a progressive and pervasive condition in which one continues to chronically engage in sexual behavior despite the consequences.
Marriage issues
Issues within a marriage. Can include issues related to trust, intimacy, communication, infidelity, parenting, or conflict. Can also include discussion related to separation or divorce.
General Expertise
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fees
$125
First Session
$110
Family Therapy
$110
Couples Therapy
$110
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Couples Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness Practices
Strength Based Therapy
Existential Therapy
Marriage and Family Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Reality Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Training / Certifications
Behavioral Health Specialist-, CBT, Mindfulness, Existential philosophy
Licensure
NC, LCMHC, 4811
Education
Masters Degree in Counseling
Work History
I have over 25 years of clinical experience. i began my career in the US Army from 1994-2000 serving as a medic and also as therapist. i was deployed in support of the Bosnian peacekeeping mission from 1995-1996. After honorably separating from the Army, I worked in multiple Emergency room settings providing crisis intervention and level of care evaluations. I also began private practice in 2001 in providing individual land family therapy. i Individually, i began to help those with anxiety, depression and anger problems to help find balance an modulate. I then opened my own private practice, Insight Counseling and psychotherapy in 2008 which remains in service at this time and is located in Matthews NC. I continue to serve families and individuals win assisting with mood disorders, anxiety, depression, anger, addiction and sexual addiction, and family counseling.
Location
3021 Senna Drive, Matthews, 28105, NC