What is your style/approach to therapy?
Our first session will be spent exploring your therapeutic needs and answering any questions you may have. Many people are hesitant to being therapy and I strive to make the process as comfortable and productive as possible. We will work together to prioritize your needs. We will devise a strategy specific to your needs and your desired outcomes. We will work at your pace while also challenging you to step outside of your routine at times.
What’s the most profound, insightful, or interesting thing you’ve learned as a mental health professional?
One of the most important lessons I've learned throughout my work as a therapist is that it is important to "learn to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations." We all face barriers and road blocks which inform our decisions, our choices, and our abilities to overcome difficult situations. I have found that by practicing using skills during good times, we become better at activating those skills during stressful times.
What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
Like many others, my path to becoming a therapist started with receiving my own therapy. As an adolescent I was blessed to work with some amazing counselors which lead me to want to support others the way my counselors supported me. As an adult both before and after becoming a therapist, I've been able to learn from amazing people whose work has further solidified that providing therapy and collaborating with others is exactly what I want to be doing.
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.
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.
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.
Substance abuse
Substance abuse is the intentional misuse of a substances (e.g., alcohol, prescription drugs, OTC medications, recreational and street drugs, household chemicals). This may include binge drinking or taking twice the prescribed dose of painkillers. For substances considered illegal and/or extremely detrimental to well-being, using even once may be considered substance abuse. Because of the addiction potential for many substances, abuse oftentimes leads to addiction.
General Expertise
Work Stress
Workplace issues are a common source of stress and can include interpersonal conflict, communication problems, gossip, harassment, discrimination, low motivation and job satisfaction, performance issues, and poor job fit.
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.
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.
Fees
$130
First Session
$160
Couples Therapy
$130
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Couples Session
Family Session
Group Session
Individual Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Seniors (65+)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Training / Certifications
Broad Clinical knowledge and experience engaging various de-escalation and crisis intervention strategies
Clinical Supervision, Legal, Ethical, and Risk Management Education and Training
Tier I – Military Cultural Competence Training – STAR Behavioral Health
Annually obtain education focused on Cultural Responsiveness; Law and Ethics specific to the delivery of mental health services; clinical supervision training; Cognitive, Behavioral and Motivational Treatment approaches
Prior training and experience providing services to adults, adolescents, children and families in the inpatient, outpatient, and institutional settings
Licensure
CA, LMFT, 53257
Education
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, National University
Work History
Training and experience providing traumatic grief and moral injury specific treatment to first responders, civilians, separated and active-duty military personnel. Skilled Provider of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Extensive training and consultation focused on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders.