My Approach to Helping
Thank you for visiting to learn more about therapy options to support a healthier life. I embrace the power of story for healing, using an empowering, strengths-based approach based in narrative therapy to help you shape a new way forward. My goal as a counselor is to provide a safe, caring environment to assist you in working through challenging seasons of life and issues such as grief, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and trauma. I offer support for navigating life transitions related to family, relationships, and careers. Special areas of focus for me include dreamwork, connection with nature, the human-animal bond, and support for empaths and highly sensitive people. I hope that in our work together, you will feel supported and accompanied on your unique journey of healing and growth.
More Info About My Practice
I embrace the power of story for healing, which means working together to:
-understand where your story came from and where you want it to go
-identify and externalize negative messages that falsely define you
-identify the strengths that have gotten you through your toughest challenges; and
-visualize the story you want to live and start to create it.
This empowering, strengths-based narrative therapy approach helps clients recognize the resources inside and around them that can help shape a new way forward.
Beyond narrative therapy, I am a relational and person-centered therapist: it’s important to me to be present and provide a steady, supportive environment for processing life’s challenges and difficult experiences. I draw on various theories as needed, incorporating attachment theory, mindfulness-based approaches including meditation, and other supportive methods. I welcome clients to bring up spiritual topics and meaning-of-life questions for exploration together.
My areas of specialization in counseling graduate school focused on grief, trauma, relationships with animal companions, and connecting with nature in therapy. More recently, I have undergone intensive training in dreamwork, supporting empaths and highly sensitive people, and supporting helping professionals who are seeking greater awareness and coping skills for how the energy of others and the work environment affects them.
Before transitioning into the field of counseling, I worked in federal government and corporate positions for 15 years. I draw on this career and life experience to support my clients as they work through challenges and changes in their own lives.
Learn more about my credentials below:
License:
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, New Mexico, No. CMH0209111
Degrees:
MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
BA, Romance Languages (Spanish and French), Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
Clinical Internships:
La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services, Las Cruces, NM
Equine-Assisted Programs of Southern New Mexico, Las Cruces, NM
Certifications:
Compassionate Bereavement Care, MISS Foundation, Sedona, AZ
Ecopsychology, Pacific Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, CA
Animal-Assisted Therapy, Harcum College, Bryn Mawr, PA
Selected Intensive Trainings:
Dream Teacher Level 1, Robert Moss School of Active Dreaming (7-Week Live Interactive Training)
Intuitive Healing Training with Judith Orloff, MD (12-Week Live Interactive Training)
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.
