What is your style/approach to therapy?
I have a very eclectic style to therapy. First, I am very person-centered. I believe it is important to develop a solid, trusting relationship in order to better understand and provide you with the appropriate environment to accomplish what you want in therapy. I am trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy. Together, we will talk about what therapy approach might work best for you. There is no right or wrong answer. The important piece is that you are able to make the changes you desire for your life.
What do you view as a key component of the therapeutic relationship?
I believe trust is a key component of the therapeutic relationship. Unless the client feels safe and heard, he/she will not be able to identify and discuss important issues bringing them to therapy. Being able to trust me as your therapist means knowing I will be honest and forthright in treatment and that I am listening to hear what you need from the relationship.
How do you determine therapy goals with clients? What does that process look like?
When determining therapy goals, I believe it is important to have a good understanding of what the individual is looking to gain or change with therapy. The first appointment will consist of getting to know you and your history and then set the therapy goal based on what you want. The goal may change during therapy and we will work together to identify and change goals as you reach some goals or develop new thoughts about what you want from 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.
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.
Veterans' issues
Veterans’ issues involve any issues associated with veterans and/or their family members (military families). Veterans oftentimes present with issues that are unique to the human experience. PTSD, suicide, and substance use prevalence are high with this population as a result of immense stress and trauma. Other issues may include adjustment to civilian life, re-integrating with family, medical care, mental health treatment, employment, and finances.
General Expertise
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.
Anger management
It's normal to experience anger at times, but for some, it becomes so frequent, intense, or difficult to control that it negatively affects their life. Anger management is a structured therapeutic approach toward reducing one’s anger to a point where more appropriate coping and/or conflict management skills are used. Beliefs and thoughts leading toward anger outbursts are explored while healthy coping and interpersonal skills are put into practice.
Fees
$130
First Session
$150
Family Therapy
$110
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Training / Certifications
Cognitive Processing Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Licensure
IL, LCPC, 180006498
Education
Master of Science in Education, Concentration in Community Counseling, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL
Work History
I've been fortunate in my career to work with individuals with a variety of backgrounds and issues. I have done work with individuals with serious mental illness, anxiety disorders, depression, and trauma. As an Army Veteran, I understand the military culture and while not a combat veteran, do understand trauma and how it affects one's ability to function in ways that were easy in the past. Whatever, the issue, I have training and experience to help you resolve the problems in ways that will help you function for the type of life you want. We will work together to find what will work for you and help you be the person you desire.
Location
716 S. Land St., harrisburg, 62946, IL