What was your path to becoming a therapist? What inspired you to choose this profession?
I spent the first couple years of college and all of high school being undecided on what I wanted to do with my career. At one point, I wanted to be a math teacher because I was fairly good at it. That was until I got to Calculus, and I nearly failed the class. My next career choice was to be an Occupational Therapist (OT). I even chose my college based on their programming for OT. However, before even starting any classes for OT I switched my focus to psychology and counseling. I was fortunate to have a psychology class in high school and it kept in the back of my mind. I truly enjoyed learning about the brain, people's unique reactions to stress, biology, social dynamics, and trauma coupled with how this can affect their daily life. A part of me just knew this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to help people work through trauma, stress, and a variety of issues. I take the skills that I've always had for teaching and applied it to how I approach therapy.
In what ways does your personality influence your approach to therapy?
I am a very honest and genuine person. I approach therapy in a transparent way. I do not believe there should be secrets that I keep from you since this is your therapy. I believe there is always a way to explain the process or what I am thinking in an appropriate and therapeutic way.
In what ways do your life philosophy and treatment philosophy overlap?
My life philosophies are to 'Just Breathe' and 'find the good'. To me, 'Just Breathe' is how I focus on the here and now as well as keep moving forward. If you are breathing, you are surviving. I take this approach in therapy in that sometimes we get caught up in futuristic worries or concerns of the past and we need to take time to be present in the here and now. Sometimes we also need to acknowledge the importance that we are here and we survived. When I think of 'Find the Good', I think about always looking to the brighter side of things. I practice from a strengths-based approach where I focus on finding your strengths and acknowledging how they got you this far and how they can help you overcome your current obstacles.
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.
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.
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.
Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic disorders are characterized by a disconnect from reality that stems from maladaptive thinking and perceptions. Primary symptoms include delusions and hallucinations. Common psychotic disorders include brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, paraphrenia, psychotic disorder due to a medical condition, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, and substance-induced psychotic disorder.
Suicidal ideation
Suicidal ideation may occur passively or become something in which one devises a plan, means, and intent to act. For some it may occur infrequently, perhaps after a tragic event. For others, it is frequent—occurring weekly or daily. Oftentimes these individuals experience ongoing struggles with mental health. Whenever one experiences suicidal ideation, it is recommended to speak with someone immediately.
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.
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.
Relationship Issues
Refers relationship issues with a partner or spouse. Can include issues related to relationship distress, relationship satisfaction, communication, intimacy, etc.
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.
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
$120
First Session
$160
Couples Therapy
$120
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Individual Session
Clientele
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Strength Based Therapy
Eclectic Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Licensure
WA, LMHC, LH61255915
Education
Master's of Arts in Counseling, St. Edward's University
Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology, McKendree University
Work History
I started work towards a mental health career in 2011. I have worked in multiple inpatient psychiatric hospitals in 2 different states. During my time working inpatient, I have worked with a wide variety of presenting problems, diagnoses, and populations. I often work with individuals who experience anxiety, depression, life transitions, psychosis, and trauma.
Location
Everett, 98203, WA