Becoming a therapist was not a difficult choice for me as I have always enjoyed helping others, listening to others talk about their lives and work through what is bothering them. I believe receiving therapy doesn’t have to be a lifelong commitment but rather it can be a short term solution to help assist you through some of life’s most stressful or painful times.

I enjoy spending time with new clients building rapport and trying to earn their trust to make them feel more comfortable with me and the environment. I want to ensure my clients always feel safe in my office and I work to maintain this safety throughout our time together. My compassion for others, desire to impact lives and belief that changes are possible are what drives me while counseling.

I use an integrative therapeutic approach depending on what my clients enjoy and respond to best. My education and clinical experience have largely focused on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy and trauma informed practices. My counseling experience has provided me with the opportunity to work with many individuals who have experienced a wide variety of trauma. It is because of these experiences I recognize how trauma impacts one’s life and the importance of working to process trauma with the individual and possibly the family. Far too often, the family is impacted by trauma as well as the individual, therefore it is often helpful to address it with the family system to best help my clients heal. I also have experience and enjoy working with members of different cultures and communities such as the LGBTQ community. My time as a clinical case manager at Children’s Home + Aid has allowed me to work with many adopted children and their families. It is through this experience I have also worked with many individuals with mood disorders such as Depression and Bipolar Disorder; anxiety disorders; impulse control and conduct disorders; and trauma related disorders such as Reactive Attachment Disorder and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder. I also enjoy working with parents to strengthen their relationship with their children. 

Working with people, of all ages, who are seeking to change their lives or who are stuck and needing help is one of my greatest joys in life.  I enjoy helping people move past their past so that they can live in the present as strong vibrant individuals.  I do this through the use of EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy along with CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and several other interventions.  I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who received her Master’s in Professional Counseling at Lindenwood University.  I have worked full time in the counseling field for the past five and a half years along with having gained life experience as a stay at home mother while raising three fun-loving rambunctious sons.  I look forward to meeting you and being a part of your journey as you continue to grow and change.

I have provided clinical services for over 25 years in a wide variety of settings and use an eclectic, strengths-based approach to tailor treatment to meet each client's unique needs. I am experienced with young children, older children, preteen, teens, adults, couples and family therapy. I have years of experience facilitating parent support groups and enjoy seeing families respond and heal as they learn and utilize effective, individualized parenting skills to overcome challenges. My experience and training have given me specialized skills in working with children, individuals and families addressing attachment, trauma, behavioral problems, grief and loss, divorce and depression. I also have experience working with schools and am able to help families manage academic challenges, navigate the system and access needed support. If you desire, I can also incorporate faith-based interventions into sessions. I have a calming, nurturing, compassionate disposition and am passionate about my role as a helper.

Why do we make the choices we make? That is a question that has always intrigued me. It was why I chose a career where I could help others explore that question for themselves. I believe that sometimes when someone looks at their own life, it can be like trying to look into a mirror that is too close to their face. When the mirror is too close, we can’t see the reflection. I see my job as helping clients to pull the mirror back in order to make sense of what they see.

I have a Master’s in Social Work, and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Prior to working in a private practice setting, I worked for 16 years as a school social worker. This experience has given me a great deal of knowledge about education-related needs and Individualized Education Plans (IEP).

I specialize in working with teens and adults, however I have experience in counseling clients of all ages. I am skilled at working with men, and I understand just how hard it can be for men to ask for assistance. I also thoroughly enjoy couples counseling, and I have received training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT).

I begin my work with clients by first building a positive rapport and trust. I don’t believe therapy needs to be boring, and I enjoy bringing humor into the therapeutic environment. My clinical approach to therapy depends on the needs of the client. I have experience using problem-solving, behavioral, and cognitive therapies. I have helped people with anxiety, anger expression, depression, trauma, educational challenges, sudden life changes, and grief. My goal is to help clients through difficult times in their lives until they get to the point where they no longer need my assistance.