My Approach to Helping
You’ve just taken the first step to feeling better and reaching your goals. Starting therapy can be intimidating for some people, so I hope to put your mind at ease by providing some information about myself and what you can expect from me.
I’ve been a counselor for nearly twenty years, and I am licensed in Illinois and Missouri. I got my master's degree in counseling from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I have worked with clients from all different backgrounds, ages 1 through adulthood, and am an LGBTQ affirmative therapist. I've also worked in several settings, including schools, residential programs, early intervention in-home services, and private practice. Just be yourself!
Nothing speaks more than what my actual clients have to say. Here are some reviews from real clients of mine:
"Even through just one online session, I have gained knowledge of possible remedies for some of my problems. She is incredibly understanding and asks just the right questions to make you really think about where your problems could stem from."
"She has helped our daughter not only grow comfortable with counseling but has also supported her in working through significant anxiety and OCD. We’ve seen great strides in our daughter’s ability to cope and even healthily push beyond her discomforts, which has been such amazing growth for her. "
"Since day one, she has helped me! I love that the first thing she asked was what my three goals were. She’s helped me love and appreciate myself more. She also listens and asks questions that I would never ask myself. "
Some people want to know what my "style" is. First, I am very client-centered. While I may be the "expert" on therapy tools and strategies, I believe that you are the expert on you. That means that I won’t ever tell you what to do. I like to think of myself as a guide. Together, we can explore the issues you’re dealing with, organize them so they start to make sense, and plan out how best to solve them. Therapy is definitely a team sport and will require effort from both of us.
The tools I use come from many different approaches to therapy because there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. We can discuss what best suits your issues as well as what you’ll be most comfortable with. The approaches I draw most heavily from are solution-focused, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral, and trauma-informed therapy. This means I tend to focus more on the present and future goals and often help people identify and change thoughts and behaviors getting in their way.