As a practicing therapist in the Portland area since 2004, my desire all along has been to connect with real people who are hurting, seeking direction, or asking questions about their lives, and to assist them in their journey towards greater healing and discovery. I am an individual, couples, and group counselor, holding a degree in Psychology from Portland State University, as well as a Masters in Counseling from Western Seminary. My counseling experience has given me the opportunity to work with people of varying ages, races, religions, and family backgrounds.
One of the universal truths I have seen is that everyone of us gets "stuck" now and then, and needs help to get going again in the right direction. So often, we need a listening ear to help us make the tough decisions and help to put us back on the right path. Sometimes that help can come from friends and family, but other times we need an objective third-party to step in and help out, and that is where a professional counselor can be extremely helpful.
Issues such as guilt and pain are serious, and they must be dealt with. However, as a counselor I also believe it is a mistake to take ourselves too seriously, and therefore miss out on the fun and adventure that life has in store. God did not make us to be people who agonize and suffer our lives away, and this makes me a firm believer in the concept that laughter truly is one of the best medicines for our heart and for our soul. There is no doubt that there will be a time for tears, but there should also be a time for laughter and joy as well.
The people who work with me are challenged to move away from the trappings of fear, personal shame, family dysfunction, and mental illness. When you meet with me, I will motivate you to move towards a life of freedom, joy, love, and greater purpose. I honor you and the very real struggles you face, but refuse to define you by the problems you have faced, or jugde you for them. I will seek to know you personally and will advise and motivate you to better understand your hopes and dreams, and will work with you as you set out to achieve them.
More Info About My Practice
I started Lighthouse Counseling in order to help individuals who are struggling or stuck, and to allow them to see the difficulties around them in a new light so that they are better equiped to reach their goals and can find a clear path towards healing. The function of a lighthouse on the coast is to provide protection and warning, as well as a greater ability to see the obstacles around you, in order to help you steer towards safer waters. A counselor can't steer the boat for you, but I can help show you a better direction and point you towards a better path.
Examples of topics that I have worked with include:
*Fear & anxiety
*Sexual concerns
*Intimacy & relationships
*Loneliness/isolation
*Self-esteem
*Premarital/pre-engagement counseling
*Teen & college counseling
*Pornography
*Couples counseling
*Career & life development
*Life transitions
*Spiritual concerns
*Depression/hopelessness
*Suicidal thoughts
*Stress
*Grief & loss
*Setting goals & creating a life of purpose
Services I Provide
Individual Therapy & Counseling
Marriage, Couples, or Relationship Counseling
Group Therapy
Distance or Phone Therapy
Ages I Work With
Teens
Adults
Elders
Languages I Speak
English
Therapy Approaches I Use
Client-Directed Outcome-Informed Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy /REBT
Gestalt Therapy
Jungian Psychotherapy
Narrative Therapy
Solution Focused Therapy
Integration of different therapy models
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