Copy of About

About me

For 20 years of my life I was a stay-at-home mother raising five children and ALL that that entails. (You soccer moms and dads know exactly what I'm talking about). But my love for learning, and in particular my love for science, compelled me to add studies to my list of duties and I graduated in 1999 with a B.S. in Biology.

Within months I moved from Great Falls, Montana to Laredo, Texas and found myself in a high school classroom teaching Biology and Chemistry. A few years ago I decided that my life experience and my particular talents seemed to issue me a different calling and I enrolled in graduate studies to become a counselor. I successfully completed that degree earning all A's.

Education is an important piece for therapists to be skilled, but in my opinion, it isn't the only piece. My coursework taught me the suspected causes, diagnoses, and possible treatments around emotional distress and mental illness. It taught me about the ethical issues and requirements to be an effective counselor and it gave me exposure to philosophies and techniques that have demonstrated effectiveness in helping ease emotional pain and discomfort. All of which is foundationally necessary for effective treatment. What an education is unable to do, however, is implant the wisdom that comes from living awhile and experiencing or witnessing the many challenges and joys that life offers. Such enrichment allows a therapist to lay aside any judgment, to listen with compassion and to hear and respond to the client's real issues without predetermined agendas.

I feel competent at using both my training and my life experience in the therapeutic relationship. I am skilled working with couples and families as well as working with adolescents. I also have particular skills and interests in dealing with life changes, loss and grief, spiritual conflict and gay and lesbian issues.

About Psychotherapy

Most clients find that the most healing piece to therapeutic work occurs as a result of the relationship between the therapist and client. In the presence of a trained, nurturing, non-judgmental, professional; real honesty can exist and as a result, fresh insight can be given--insight which can be motivating, healing, and life changing. 

My Approach

In the therapeutic world, the question "What is your therapeutic orientation?" often comes up. Such a question is meant to elicit answers such as, I'm Rogerian, Solutions-Oriented, Humanistic, Transpersonal, I use Cognitive Behavior technique, etc. But really, what we all want to know when were entering therapy is "Can you help me get from where I am, to where I want to be?  " 

My approach is eclectic, I will help you find the tools you need to make the change, or find the healing, or gain the insight you seek. I am a proactive counselor, which means that while listening is a crucial tool in therapy; I am not afraid to provide the insight and interventions that may touch your issues. I believe in a collaborative effort to problem solving and I respect your own wisdom and knowledge about your own life. We will work together in that sacred context. I also want you to know that privacy and confidentiality is also an important piece to therapy. Fortunately, we no longer live in the days of where there is stigma around emotional health, and yet, there are often feelings of trepidation when entering counseling. I work hard to create a safe and nurturing place for you to face your questions and issues.

Some of the specialized trainings or workshops I have attended which may be of interest include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, Guided Imagery, Therapy and Trauma, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Parts I and II, Sand Tray, Psychodrama, Anger Management, Solutions Oriented Therapy, Family Therapy

Over the years it has been my privilege to share the therapeutic journey with many wonderful, brave, interesting and talented individuals from all walks of life. I have worked with children as young as five-years-old and covered the gamut of ages to adulthood. We have worked together tackling a wide range of therapeutic issues which include the following: