Education & Experience
I obtained my undergraduate degree from Samford University in Psychology where I graduated with honors in 2013. I then continued my education at California Baptist University where I received an M.S. in Clinical Psychology in 2016. I obtained licensures in California as a marriage and family therapist and professional clinical counselor. I have worked in a variety of mental health settings including school-based counseling, private practices where I counseled individuals, couples, and families, an in-patient hospital setting, and now my own private practice. Overall, I have worked in the mental health field for 10+ years and before that in various ministry and missions’ capacities where I provided soul care and leadership.
As a former TCK, I know first-hand the joys and struggles of living as a teen/family overseas and have assisted several families over the years in navigating the challenges of transition and cross-cultural living. This background along with other clinical experiences have equipped me to relate to individuals from diverse walks of life.
My Methodology
I use a cognitive behavioral therapy approach, combined with biblical principles as desired by the client, and empathetic listening to help resolve issues and decrease symptoms. I also pull from various other therapeutic orientations and techniques as required. I am certified in Prepare-Enrich for premarital counseling and also trained in the use of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) techniques. I am licensed in California as a marriage and family therapist and in California/Louisiana as a professional counselor. Click below to learn more about my approaches to therapy with Children, Teens, Adults, Families, and Couples Counseling.
Therapy with Children
I see children starting as young as age 6. Issues we might address with your child include emotional regulation, fears and separation anxiety, executive functioning, lying/impulsivity, trauma/PTSD, coping skills, grief and loss, divorce, transitions, and more.
After emailing me to set up an initial session and filling out some brief paperwork, we will meet for our first session. My policy is to meet with parents/caregiver first for a 50-minute introductory session to gather information on history, family dynamics, strengths, and goals. We will also develop a treatment plan together. I will then meet with the child separately beginning in the second session where I will continue the assessment through rapport-building games and questions. I will be in contact with you as the parent/caregiver throughout the counseling process. You as the primary caregiver do have a right to know about what occurs with your child during sessions. However, for the sake of a child’s feeling of safety and security in the therapy room, I may choose to limit what is said to more general information in order to protect the child’s sense of connection with the therapist and his/her willingness to open up in the future. Although, if there is a safety concern, I will always make sure you as the caregiver are made aware.
In the following sessions, we will continue to work on treatment goals. As children learn best through play, I often incorporate social stories, workbooks, and art/play therapy as I see fit to best reach our desired outcomes. Parents are also included in this process when it is helpful. There will be times when I choose to meet with the child individually and times when it is helpful to have the caregiver in the room and work together towards our goals for the child. We will terminate therapy whenever the child is successfully meeting treatment goals or at the discretion or parents and therapist.
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Therapy with Teens
I see teens of all ages. Issues we might address with your teen (or you as the teenage client) include stress/anxiety management, depression, identity issues, perfectionism, boundaries and choices, impulsivity and executive functioning, anger management, OCD, trauma/PTSD, grief and loss, life transitions, and more.
After emailing me to set up an initial session and filling out some brief paperwork through my client portal, we will meet for the first introductory session where I will take a thorough history of concerns, discuss desired outcomes, and collaboratively set treatment goals with client and caregiver. We will continue working on goals until desired outcomes are met, and both therapist and client are satisfied with progress where will then terminate therapeutic services.
Clients over the age of 12 (per California law) have the right to consent to their own therapy, and I find it best for teens to have a sense of confidentiality for the facilitation of a secure and open environment for counseling. I will give general overviews of counseling sessions and will often encourage your teen to share certain information with you as the parent. I will even, at times, include parents in session as beneficial to treatment goals. If there is a safety concern, I will always make sure you as the caregiver are made aware as per the limits of confidentiality.
Click Here for This Free Resource on Anxiety/Stress Management Techniques
Check out the Journal/Blog for more Teen-Specific Resources
Therapy with Adults
I provide counseling for individuals from a variety of backgrounds, and particularly specialize meeting with young adult clients, women, adult TCKs, and those in ministry. Issues we might address in therapy include anxiety/depression, stress management and burnout, identity issues, co-dependency and boundary setting, addictions, perfectionism, spiritual questioning, healthy relationships, trauma/PTSD, grief and loss, life transitions, and more.
After emailing me to set up an initial session and filling out some brief paperwork through my client portal, we will meet for the first introductory session where I will take a thorough history of concerns, discuss desired outcomes, and collaboratively set treatment goals with you as the client. We will continue working on goals until desired outcomes are met, and both therapist and client are satisfied with progress where will then terminate therapeutic services.
Click Here for This Free Resource on Anxiety/Stress Management Techniques
Check out the Journal/Blog for Additional Resources
Family Therapy
I provide family therapy where beneficial and specialize in helping families navigate transition and loss. Concerns addressed in family therapy could also include improving communication and conflict, addressing family structure and power dynamics, navigating a challenging season or transition, and more.
After emailing me to set up an initial session and filling out some brief paperwork through my client portal, we will meet as a family for the first introductory session where I will take a thorough history of concerns, discuss desired outcomes, and collaboratively set treatment goals with the family. I will also take time to meet with each member of the family individually. We will continue working on goals until desired outcomes are met, and both therapist and family are satisfied with progress where will then terminate therapeutic services.
Click Here for This Free Resource on Anxiety/Stress Management Techniques
Check out the Journal/Blog for Additional Resources
Couples Counseling
I enjoy meeting with both pre-marital couples and those in marriages or committed partnerships. For both pre-marital and marital couples, issues we might address include communication and conflict, personality differences, expectations, extended family, commitment, forgiveness, life stressors, and more.
In pre-marital therapy, I also incorporate the use of the Prepare-Enrich test, which I am trained to administer, to address meaningful areas of concern to the couple. Typically, these results can be address in 5-8 sessions. For both pre-marital and marital counseling, I pull from therapeutic training in emotionally focused therapy and Gottman methods and will bring in other resources where I find it therapeutically beneficial.
After setting up an initial session through email and filling out some brief paperwork on the client portal, we will meet together for our first introductory session where I will gather relevant history, discuss desired outcomes, and collaboratively develop treatment goals with the couple. I will also meet with each individual separately. We will continue meeting until desired outcomes are met, and both therapist and couple are satisfied with the progress where will then terminate therapeutic services.
Click Here for This Free Resource on Anxiety/Stress Management Techniques
Check out the Journal/Blog for Additional Resources