From the time I began practicing counseling I have had the privilege of working with clients who have wildly diverse backgrounds, strengths, and struggles. I spent the first several years of my practice working with women who were homeless and struggling with addiction and mental illness in a residential treatment center. Some of these women were born into poverty, others came from affluent backgrounds and successful careers. All experienced trauma, and struggled to hold on to hope. These women were some of my best teachers: about trauma and abuse and it’s impact on the human psyche, about shame and how important it is to overcome the lies it tells us, and mostly about the incredible resilience of the human spirit. I count as one of my greatest blessings being able to bear witness to the redemptive story of hope I saw play out in that place.

From there I began working in a church setting, working with individuals, couples, and families as they dealt with grief, trauma, addiction, and all of the stresses and strains of living in a broken world. It cemented for me the truth that there really is no “other”. No matter whether we are living on a park bench or in a giant house in suburbia, regardless of our color, culture or faith, the reality is that we are all engaged in the same struggle: trying to find hope and grasp onto the reality of our power to bring about change in the midst of circumstances that feel – and often are! – completely outside of our control.

I share this because perhaps the most important thing you should know about me is this: I believe whole-heartedly that change is possible, no matter where you are today. I view my role as helping you see and lay hold of the power that you already have, grounded in truth and not wishful thinking. The work will be yours to do, but I am committed to coaching, counseling, and encouraging you every step along the way.

As to my training, I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-S), licensed chemical dependency counselor (LCDC), and a Board Certified Neurotherapist (BCN). I use a trauma-informed approach, and am experienced with cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and a number of other treatment approaches. I am client-centered, meaning that I don’t use the same approach with every person simply because I am committed to it. Rather, I am committed to my clients and therefore use the approach that makes the most sense for their individual treatment, based on both my experience and the research base.