What do you think is the biggest barrier today for people seeking care?
I believe the stigma attached to mental health is the biggest barrier. There is a strong belief passed down through generations in my community that one should not tell anyone their personal or family business. I am proud to say that I can see those cycles being broken as people realize that needing help does not make them weak or any less of a man, woman, or Christian.
What does a first session with you look like?
During the first session, we will review practice policies to ensure the client has a firm grasp on what is expected of them as the client and what they can expect from me as the therapist. We will then complete the intake process so I can get a better picture of who the client is. Lastly, we will work collaboratively to make all of the identified goals manageable for the client.
How do you determine therapy goals with clients? What does that process look like?
I do allow clients to determine what their treatment goals will be and how they would like to accomplish their goals. I simply ask the client what they would like to get out of therapy. My purpose in that process is to make sure the client is creating goals that are attainable. I then make sure that the client's goals are stated therapeutically for the treatment plan.
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.
Parenting issues
Parenting issues involve those associated with the child-rearing process. These may include safety, discipline, nutrition, finances, childcare, school, household rules, chores, daily routines, social activities, and relationships with extended family members. Because child-rearing practices vary by culture, cultural norms must be considered.
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
Adolescent mental health
Adolescent mental health focuses on adolescent-specific experiences including physical and cognitive development, social and environmental factors, sex, sexual identification and orientation, emotional processing, and substance use. Given the influence that parents/guardians have on adolescents, home life is a particularly important consideration.
Adoption & foster care
Adoption and foster care considerations include education on the process, integrating the new family, establishing household rules and boundaries, processing past trauma on behalf of the child, emotional health, and other adjustment procedures.
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.
Child mental health
Children can be impacted by things like anxiety, depression, ADHD and more. However, they can be difficult to identify because kids aren’t always able to communicate effectively. Untreated, child mental health issues can have long-term effects.
College & graduate student issues
Issues arising from being in a new environment or away from home for the first time. College-aged kids have the highest rates of mental illness, suffering things like stress, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and substance abuse.
Fees
$200
First Session
$175
Family Therapy
$125
Individual Therapy
Types of Therapy
Family Session
Individual Session
Group Session
Clientele
Parents
Young Adults (18-24)
Adults (25-65)
Adolescents (13-17)
Treatment Approaches / Modalities
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Coaching
Motivational Interviewing
Training / Certifications
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
Licensure
AL, LICSW, 3674C
FL, LCSW, SW18145
Education
Master of Social Work, University of Alabama
Work History
I have worked in the mental health field for over ten years. I have had the opportunity to work with children and families involved with the foster care system as well as incarcerated adults.
Location
7753 1st Avenue S, Birmingham, 35215, AL