Areas of Expertise
I worked for 7 years in pastoral counseling before returning to school to complete my master's in counseling psychology. Since then, I have worked 3 years at a residential treatment center for latency aged and adolescent youth in state care and 5 years at college counseling centers.
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I have interest and training in: ​​​​
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​​Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)
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Attachment and Belonging
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Family of Origin Issues
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Spirituality and Values Exploration
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Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy​
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Person Centered/Existential Therapy
My Approach
I believe in a balance of relationship and skills or process and content.
I want our sessions to be like one long conversation that results in increased self-awareness and an expanded behavioral "toolbox" to manage negative feelings and challenges while building on the innate strengths of each person.
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I believe freeing the natural impulse to thrive is the engine of all therapy and that shame is the main impediment to growth. I tailor my approach to create specific interventions that put into practice new behaviors and thoughts that align with insight gained in session.
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I take a biopsychosocial approach to mental health assessment that regards functioning as a result of the dynamic interaction between biological, social, environmental, and psychological factors. Consequently, referrals for medical and psychiatric (medication) evaluation can be part of the therapy experience.
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Person Centered Therapy
Person Centered Therapy was most famously advocated by Carl Rogers who considered unconditional positive regard and positive rapport between therapist and client as the foundation of the therapeutic experience.
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Person centered therapy seeks to place the client as the expert in their own experience while integrating the therapists clinical training to create personalized interventions and skills training to reduce distress. Person centered therapy sees the client as the sum of their life experiences and views personal growth as the natural outcome of a correct relationship with self and others.
Reading List
"How to Know A Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen" by David Brooks
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"The Gift of Therapy" by Irving Yalom
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"Nicomachean Ethics" by Aristotle
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"The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir" by Elna Baker
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"On Becoming a Person" by Carl Rogers
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"We Learn Nothing: Essays" by Tim Kreider
