My Approach to Helping
I believe in a client centered approach focusing on the whole person, physical and emotional. Everyone has strengths, some of which they are not aware of themselves. Clients have come to me from a variety of backgrounds and bring with them a broad wealth of talents, knowledge and skills. As a therapist, I believe the strongest tool clients can use to help become a stronger and healthier individual lies within themselves. I believe in helping clients to understand what brought them to where they are and to use their own personal strengths and passions with a solution focused therapeutic approach to help them move forward to a better state of being.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family. I have twin daughters, a son and an energetic dog whom I hope to train to be a therapy dog someday. I enjoy the beach, music, spending time with friends and watching a good movie.
More Info About My Practice
Education: I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish from Mount Saint Mary’s University. I went on to earn a Master’s degree in Counseling and a Graduate Certificate in Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Counseling from The College of New Jersey (Formerly Trenton State College). After earning my Master’s I became a Nationally Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. I completed two four week language study programs abroad, one in Ecuador and one in Spain to study the Spanish Language and Culture
Experience:I have experience working in the Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient settings. I worked with adolescents and adults who not only struggled with addiction and the recovery process but also struggled with codependency, anxiety, depression and disordered eating. I addressed relationship issues between couples as well as with parents and children. I have worked with bullies and with victims of bullying. I have done research and writing on the differences between fears and phobias and believe in a gentle systematic desensitization approach to treatment. I work with nutrition and wellness and have experience with food related diseases like Diabetes and Celiac. I foster a safe environment for my client so he or she can feel comfortable and get the most out of the therapeutic process.
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
Academic Underachievement, Addiction, Alcohol Abuse, Anger Management, Anxiety, Behavioral Issues, Career Counseling, Child or adolescent, Chronic Pain, Chronic Relapse, Codependency, Coping Skills, Cultural Identity, Depression, Divorce, Drug Abuse, Eating Disorders, Emotional Disturbance, Family Conflict, Gambling, Grief, Infidelity, Internet Addiction, Life Coaching, Life Transitions, Marital and Premarital, Obesity, Parenting, Peer Relationships, Phobias, Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum, Relationship Issues, School Issues, Self Esteem, Self-Harming, Sexual Abuse, Sexuality, Sleep or Insomnia, Spirituality, Stress, Substance Abuse, Testing and Evaluation, Video Game Addiction, Weight loss, Women?s Issues
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.