In what ways have your personal experiences influenced your work with your clients?
My personal experiences has helped me in gaining a better perspective on how to support clients who are going through the most difficult challenges. It has also increased my ability to empathize with client and to be present with them in their journey towards healing.
What does success look like in therapy? How will a client know that they are making progress?
Success in therapy can look as simple as the opportunity to connect with a therapist who understands your struggles and is able to listen and support you in your journey. Progress can be recognized by personal growth and increased ability to handle stressful moments.
What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
I grew up in a small town in Jamaica, where my mother would offer support to anyone who was in need. She would feed those who were hungry, traveled to the doctor with the elderly when they were sick, ensured that children who came to our home were fed, and counseled both the young and the old. I became inspired by my mother helping others, and the helping profession chose me by way of a natural calling.
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.
Autism spectrum disorder
A developmental disability that impacts communication and behavior. Onset typically occurs during early childhood, but an individual may be diagnosed at any point in life. Severity of the disorder varies along a spectrum. Accordingly, challenges associated with verbal and nonverbal communication, interpersonal interactions, and restricted/repetitive behaviors vary as well.
Developmental disorders
Diverse collection of long-term conditions that begin in early childhood. Impact a child’s ability to participate socially and academically, leading to difficulty communicating, behaving, moving around, and reaching other developmental milestones.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
$150
First Session
$180
Family Therapy
$180
Couples Therapy
$150
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Couples Session
Family Session
Individual Session
Retreats
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Children (5-12)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness Practices
Art Therapy
Coaching
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Gestalt Therapy
Integrative Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Multicultural Therapy
Music Therapy
Narrative Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Psychological Testing and Evaluation
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Training / Certifications
Certified Family Trauma Professional Intensive Training: Effective Techniques for Treating Traumatized Children, Adolescents and Families
Personality Disorders Certificate Course: Advanced Diagnosis, Treatment & Management
Drs. John and Julie Gottman on the 10 Core Principles for Effective Couples Therapy
Licensure
NJ, LPC, 37PC00742400
Education
Master's Mental Health Counseling - Capella University
Work History
I have worked in a variety of settings from community- based setting, outpatient clinic, hospitals, schools, military units with active service members, veterans and families. Supporting individuals and families faced with trauma, abuse, depression, anxiety disorder, PTSD, abuse, learning and cognitive disabilities, learning behavioral disorders, and Autism spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Location
158 Ashurst Ln, Mt Holly, 08060, NJ