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About Me
Why Therapy
I know it can be difficult to seek support from a therapist. It takes courage to be open with another person. My primary goal is to help you feel accepted and safe with me.
I have experienced my personal share of struggles, grief, and emotional wounding. I have also experienced deep healing. I am passionate about helping others find their own healing and growth, and to help them learn how to connect more authentically to themselves and to others.
Therapy can help you overcome hardships, break free from negative patterns, and heal on a deep level. It can help you reconnect with your true Self - the Self that wants to re-emerge so that you can live the life you love and be free from the inner blocks that have held you back.
"Every woman who heals herself helps heal all women who came before her and all those who come after her."
- Christiane Northrup
My Approach
My approach is holistic because we will look at all aspects of your life, relationships, and experiences. A few modalities we may use in our work together include:
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Parts Work (IFS/DNMS): A quick example of this might be noticing the part of you that is ready and willing to start therapy, yet another part of you may feel hesitant and unsure. If you've ever seen the Pixar film "Inside Out" this is another great example of how we all have various parts to ourselves! This modality is wonderful at helping us connect to our true selves and learn about why we do certain things that we may not understand or enjoy. Getting to understand our different parts can facilitate deep healing on a profound level.
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EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing): It's a mouthful to say, I know! But this modality is especially helpful to process past negative life experiences, traumas, or emotional wounds that still feel painful. It can also help you move out of distressing experiences such as depression and anxiety that continue to linger when you've tried other counseling approaches and/or medication that hasn't fully helped, because it guides us to repair the root of the issue and not just the symptoms.
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Mindfulness-based therapy: In our hectic, stressful, daily lives, mindfulness can teach us to slow down and focus inward so that we can identify what is serving us and what is not serving us. Mindfulness is a continuous practice. It's not only through meditation that we can learn to practice mindfulness (though I am a huge proponent of meditation) but we can do almost anything mindfully - painting, playing with children, spending time with others, or anything that we bring our focused attention to in the present moment.
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Somatic-based therapy: Reconnecting with your body can be a powerful experience because it truly is the best tool you have in life. When you are deeply connected to your body, you begin to appreciate what your body does for you; you begin to feel more safe and comfortable in your own skin; and you begin to feel more loving toward your body. You will also re-learn how to trust your intuition - those gut feelings that guide you in the best direction for you!
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CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
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EFT/EFIT (Emotionally Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy)
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Health at Every Size (HAES) aligned
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LGBTQIA affirming
Additionally, I work with a variety of spiritual beliefs and will incorporate this in our work, only if it is a value of yours, because I believe we heal best when we tend to mind, body, and soul.
Who I Work With
I am passionate about working with adults who are ready for real growth and lasting change for their mind, body, and soul!
My specialties include: relationship problems, trauma, grief, body-image struggles, anxiety, and depression. I want you to know it's never too late to heal and grow. Through deep self-exploration that incorporates evidence-based treatment approaches, you can become empowered, confident, joyful, and connected with your true Self. If you resonate with anything on my website, I encourage you to reach out to see if we feel like a good fit!
Areas of focus:
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Body Image
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Trauma
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Grief
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Relationship Issues
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Life Transitions (life changes and stress)
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Self-esteem, Self-empowerment, Self-growth
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”
- Carl Jung
Education & Background
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Master of Arts in Counseling - Regis University
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Licensed Profession Counselor (LPC)
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Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC)
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EMDR trained therapist
In my counseling career, I've worked at various settings before starting my private practice. During my graduate program, I worked at a hospice center providing grief support to those who recently experienced the death of a loved one. Later, I worked at a substance use facility providing individual and group therapy to adults and adolescents struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. I then went to work for a group practice where I continued to work with adults, couples, adolescents and families struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, ADHD, grief, general life stressors, and more.
I am so grateful for each and every one of my amazing clients who have come through my door (or through my computer screen) to work on bettering themselves and heal their emotional wounds. I have come to develop a deep appreciation for the strength and resiliency of the human spirit. I am still constantly blown away by how amazing people are, even in their darkest hours.
As a therapist, I continue to educate myself both formally and informally through seminars, classes, research, peer consultation, and group supervision.
Personally
I am a life-long learner with a deep passion for personal growth. I enjoy making art, reading, writing, exploring nature, spending time with my spouse and our two large dogs, and spending time with family and friends.
Relationships and authenticity are important to me! I strive to be my genuine self with others and to surround my self with people I truly connect with. I love live music, good food, and exploring new places. I also enjoy staying home, curling up on the couch with a good book and some hot coffee or tea, or watching movies.
I have found more peace and acceptance in my own skin as I continue to learn to unapologetically embrace my authentic self. Finding my own sense of spirituality has been a long and ongoing journey, but it has been invaluable to my own healing process and my personal growth. I believe strongly in the power of forgiveness and welcome it as part of my life-long practice.