Specialties
Anxiety, Perfectionism, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Anxiety is a love-hate relationship. Some anxiety is actually good because it helps us stay alive! However, too much anxiety can get the best of us. Ever feel you can’t ever control your anxious thoughts? Ever catch yourself not being able to get anything accomplished until “that one pestering thing” in front of you is gone? My approach to improving our symptoms is simply by getting to know the anxiety and learn how we can make it a friend and not an enemy. Although my therapy methods are predominantly from a Person-Centered lens, I have found using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to be very successful when working with clients suffering from anxiety. I believe once we are able to differentiate the good from the bad in anxiety and learn how to “tame the anxious beast”, the sky is the limit.
Trauma
If I could only have one area of interest, it would be trauma. I firmly believe that the way we view ourselves and the world comes from our experiences, for better or worse. Due to this, trauma can give us scary messages, create self-sabotage, and prevent us from being our authentic selves. If we can process our trauma, write our own narrative and not the one we think is there, we begin to see our self-worth. Once we are able to see our worth, our lives become more at peace, and we can regulate our emotions and become more at peace with ourselves. I enjoy using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Gestalt, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, and pulling from Emotional-Focused Therapy.
Having worked in higher education for around a decade, I’m aware that college can be an exciting time for many, but it can also be overwhelming. It’s the first time leaving the nest, trying to make friends, and not knowing who to turn to when you’re used to having your “go-to people.” Additionally, getting to the end of college can be bittersweet, making us say to ourselves, “Oh shoot, I’m really going to be an adult now, how does adulting even work?” College is a time when young adults are trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. With so many parts, it can be overwhelming where to begin. If you’re a college student, don’t be hesitant to reach out. I hold a special place in my heart for college students and would love to support you on your journey.
College Students
Although I love helping with all kinds of grief, I hold a special place for those who have recently lost a furry companion. If you need support in processing this, don’t be hesitant to reach out. I always try to leave room for someone that lost a pet, even if it’s only for a few sessions.
The loss of a loved one can be difficult. It is confusing because so many complex emotions can happen that we don’t understand, making us stuck. Grief can make us feel things we don’t want to feel, such as sadness, anger, and shame, or even cause us to go numb because we are scared we will get flooded by these intense emotions. Grieving can make us feel we are a burden to others, especially when we are trying to get unstuck and don’t know what to do. I love using a person-centered approach by providing unconditional positive regard to the person sitting with me, so they can feel safe to share and process these feelings with someone.
Grief
Pornography Usage
Many individuals, especially males, feel deeply ashamed to address this with loved ones, making them suffer in silence. It can feel as if they were holding a deep, dark secret, and if they’re exposed, their world would crumble. If you are someone who feels this way, let’s talk. I believe it’s also important to discuss sex positivity, as this can help clients gain further insight into their needs.
I have found using Motivational Interviewing to be a productive way in helping clients create change and decrease their usage. I also like to pull from other theories such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, so clients can reflect their usage in a “play by play” perspective.
Disclosure: While I welcome clients from all walks of life, I do not offer services for court-mandated treatment or work with individuals involved in the legal system for sexual offenses, including sex offender treatment. If in need for a clinician that can provide these services, I am happy to provide a referral. I’m also not a certified sex-therapist.
LGBTQ+
As someone who identifies as part of this community, my heart goes out to those who might be struggling with their sexual identity. Like many others, I also grew up in the south and dealt with the hardships that come with this identity. If you’re someone trying to discover your sexual identity or expression, let’s talk. I find it an honor to hold space for those wanting to explore who they are, and support those wanting to love and accept themselves in their entirety.