My Approach to Helping

I believe each person has great worth and importance in the role they play as a human being. Often we get stuck playing the same story over and over again whether it is in relationships, our own self images or the choices we make. My approach to healing involves validating my clients in their beliefs and helping them to find out where they are "stuck" and walking with them as they begin to create the changes they desire. My clients often tell me they feel safer than they have ever felt before and are honest enough with themselves to do the work they want to do in order to create the life changes that allow them to move forward on their journey with a confidence they never had before. Being a Certified Trauma Therapist, I understand how trauma can have a lasting effect and can be triggered by almost anything. Trauma is visceral it is triggered by sight, smell, a sound, a certain touch or taste can bring a trauma to the forefront of our lives and its the coping skills we learn in that very moment that decide how we will proceed to be "safe." Often those coping skills are at the very root of what keeps us stuck. I utilize many different experiential techniques that offer healthy alternatives for coping that allow my clients to move forward and let go of being stuck. Clients are encouraged to go at their own pace as they are ready. I welcome all my clients into a safe space with absolutely no judgement and it is my privilege and honor to be able to witness their growth.

More Info About My Practice

There is nothing worse than signing up with a therapist that you do not align with. In light of that, I offer a free phone consultation in which we can briefly discuss whether or not you feel as though we are a good fit to work together. No worries if I am not a good fit ... I have a vast referral list that I am sure we can put to good use in finding you the right fit that you are looking for. Its not about whether you become my client or not ... it IS about you finding the help that you are looking for. I look forward to hearing from you!

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

I completed an intensive Certification Program to specifically work with trauma. Many people have trauma stories and they are not aware of how it has impacted them. The way in which they have learned to cope is more of a response to the trauma than a coping mechanism. I am skilled at helping with Trauma-Related Issues, Past Childhood Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Domestic Violence, Family of Origin-Related Issues, Depression, Anxiety, Parenting, Self Harm, Addictions Support after Rehabilitation.

I have done a great deal of work with domestic violence and abuse. Domestic violence affects every person in the family not just the family members directly involved. I did an internship at a domestic violence shelter by providing counseling services to the residents in the shelter.

As a mother of 5 children ranging in age from 7 to 24, I have vast parenting skills from the been there and done that school. But I have also worked in agencies that worked with many families referred by the Department of Children and Families. That said, I have worked with a lot of complicated families and have experienced a great deal of hands on experience as a parenting psychotherapist as well as working with adolescents and teens.

Depression and Anxiety are the two single most popular issues people seek therapy for and the reality is these are only symptoms of something else going on. Contact me if you are willing to figure out what that might b

How Psychotherapy Can Help

Psychotherapy can help in a multitude of ways but the greatest thing my clients express as a benefit of therapy is a sense of freedom or release of burdens that they have carried for such a long time. The benefits that go with that freedom or release is the ability to be true to oneself and the openness they learn allows for all their relationships to become healthier. It also gives them the ability to be able to identify the relationships that are not healthy and understanding how to use boundaries appropriately. Being able to identify the triggers that activate a certain negative reaction and being able to replace it with a healthy coping skill is one of the most helpful benefits to psychotherapy.

Another benefit to therapy is having an objective person to bounce thoughts off of when you are not sure of what is going on with you or in your relationships. Relationships can be tricky to navigate sometimes, Often we get stuck in ruts and then suddenly something happens that throw us for a loop and we aren't sure how handle it or sometimes its just the ruts that make us feel stuck. Pinpointing what is really going on is crucial to moving forward in a relationship. Communication break downs or barriers are often deeply rooted in misunderstanding and different perceptions and this is where therapy can be extremely beneficial in ANY type of relationship.