About My Therapeutic Counseling Style
I provide empathy, warmth, and compassion to be with your struggles, and to help you to move through your stuck points to a state of feeling well in a safe environment. You will remember that you are in charge of your healing, and the potential for how you want to grow is up to you. You will remember what it is like to feel self-empowered.
We work on challenging your Thoughts (the Air element of yourself) together, in a supportive and collaborative way, to transform yourself into healthier thinking patterns. I incorporate aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Hakomi and body-based awareness, Gestalt therapy, functional nutrition, and art therapy into the sessions, depending on what is present for you. I may encourage you to get out of your head and into your Body (the Earth element of yourself), to move into stronger ways of well-being. We may investigate the internal parts of yourself that make you act certain ways, and shift those parts so that you feel more in balance. We may look at how to change some Actions (the Fire element of yourself) that you are doing that just don’t work anymore.
Usually I encourage you to work on a task or a reflection in-between sessions because continuing your personal work outside of our time together helps you to integrate changes.
Therapy Designed with You in Mind
I design your treatment plan to work for you, and it could change depending on what is going on with your progress. Each person is unique with what they need. At the beginning of our work together, it is important to commit to attending regular sessions so that you will start to feel better faster. By staying consistent with attending sessions and reflecting in-between sessions, the results of your effort will show in a positive way!
My Experience as a Therapist
I am called to this work and have always enjoyed things a bit “off the beaten path.” I am passionate about helping people work through emotional problems and challenges! As people, we have a body-mind-spirit connection that is working together all the time and I believe in offering holistic, caring care. In our therapy sessions, we work on bridging that connection together. I may refer you to other professionals that can guide you along your journey to help you continue working on feeling balanced.
I am a National Certified Counselor which means I have met national professional and ethical standards that I abide by to serve you. In 2020, I moved to Colorado after 15 years in the magical Appalachian mountains of Western North Carolina, where I learned a lot, including being trained for my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) from Lenoir Rhyne Graduate Studies in Asheville. I grew up in the beautiful sunset and farm-rich southwestern region of Michigan, and obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree in Special Education from Michigan State University in 2004.
I have enjoyed helping diverse groups of people in many places for years, both in volunteer situations and professionally. Traveling extensively and being a part of interesting life experiences have all shaped my love for people. After being a Special Education teacher for ages three to 12, teaching people with special needs eventually led me to pursue my advanced CMHC degree to get more to the root of people’s life challenges. I have worked with homeless populations, in environments with people with substance abuse challenges, and in psychiatric hospitals, as well as in home and school environments. I have worked with many ages and populations to help people who have been part of inpatient, residential, and outpatient mental health settings.
If you are interested in learning more about my approach to psychotherapy, wellness coaching, BioField clearing, or have questions, I would love to talk with you.
"And then the day came
when the risk to remain
closed tightly in a bud
became more painful
than the risk it took
to blossom."
— Anais Nin