Hello! Deciding to seek counseling services is a big step. It is hard to admit that you need help. Maybe you’ve prided yourself as being “the strong one.” It is scary to consider the stigma attached to mental health treatment. It takes courage to look inside and to reach out. To see that although you’ve managed this long, it doesn’t always have to be like this. It can change. You can make it change.
I am here to help guide you through that process. One of the most important pieces for successful therapeutic treatment is the therapeutic relationship between you and your counselor. Not every counselor will be perfect for every client. It is important that you pick a therapist that is a good fit for you. I'm going to tell you a little bit about myself, and you can decide if I will be the right counselor for you.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Michigan. I graduated with my MA in Counseling in 2000. Prior to that, I worked in the field of social work in foster care, adoption, and child welfare services. There have been times when I have worked full-time, part-time, as well as times when I left the workforce to take care of my family. I understand hard decisions, because I have had to make them. I have experience working for Community Mental Health, in a private agency setting, and in residential settings. My practice consists of a trauma informed, resilience focused approach. I do not approach new clients with a "what is wrong with you" lens. I am interested in what has happened to you, identifying how you have survived and coped, and helping you develop healthier ways to better achieve a happy and fulfilling life.
Most of my experience has centered around trauma. Victims and survivors of physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, grief and loss, PTSD, depression, anxiety, victims' advocacy and court testimony support, abandonment and attachment issues. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and hold a Certificate in Human and Animal Intervention Specialist. My therapy dog, Fitz and I are a registered therapy dog team with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. I am trained in EMDR and CPT for PTSD. As a clinician, I use a person-centered approach including the following modalities: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Animal Assisted Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Therapy, and EMDR.
I think what makes me a good therapist is that I genuinely like people. I enjoy talking to people and helping them. I believe it is important to be real with my clients. I am honest, even when it is hard. I know that things can get bad. I know that sometimes, we aren’t proud of our behavior. I promise you that I will provide a judgement free zone where you will always be treated in a warm, caring, and respectful manner. I know that bad things happen, and people do whatever it takes to survive. I am here to help you find a better way.