“If I hadn’t assembled myself, I’d have fallen apart by now.”

Formal Education and Training

I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.  After spending a year working with a professor researching efficiency of school counselor interventions for minority youth, I went to the Pennsylvania State University and received my Master of Arts in Applied Clinical Psychology.  While in graduate school I interned at an outpatient counseling agency as well as working at residential group home.  I also spent time on the ALS Research Team at the Hershey Medical Center researching what would result in being my master’s thesis; quality of life for those with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).  After graduate school, I continued to work as an outpatient therapist and later supervising a multidimensional case management program including long-term mental health and substance abuse, medical psychiatric clinic, and a single room occupancy program.

Philosophy and Approach:

My philosophy is that counseling is very much about being present with a counselor who is empathic and willing to listen and help in adjusting the lenses that people regard the perception of their life’s challenges.  While I am a strong proponent of staying in the moment, I am trained in trauma-informed care, and believe that gaining perspective and working toward resolution of traumatic events can be paramount in optimizing the benefits of counseling.  I have also been trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy and believe in the power of the philosophies of mindfulness and positive psychology.

Participation:

I love to listen and I love to challenge perspective.  People come to counseling for all sorts of reasons with all kinds of expectations and I will always respect that; however, I believe that you get what you put in to counseling.  However you choose to participate, you will have an unbiased ally in working toward your goals of counseling.

Consultation:

While I adhere to confidentiality standards, I do believe in consultation using anonymous information on any challenge that I feel I could be improving my level of counseling.  Meeting monthly with experienced counselors is of most importance to continue to grow as a counselor.

Scheduling Appointments:

It takes a lot of courage to initiate counseling.  Sometimes clients prefer consistent weekly appointments, and sometimes it can be spread out to a lower frequency.  I will give you my clinical guidance on what may be best, but I realize that occasionally there are other factors to consider, such as finances or availability.  If you cannot make an appointment, please give at least 24 hours notice, otherwise you will be charged a $100 fee.  If I will not be able to keep a scheduled appointment, I will give you 24 hours notice and try to adjust accordingly to fit you into a future time-slot.

Termination and Discharge:

Discharge can be a challenging, but rewarding process.  Before you discharge, you can expect that I will discuss with you the discharge several weeks in advance as well as strategies going forward so that you leave feeling confident, efficacious, and smiling as you go forth to take on new adventures.

Other Personal Interests:

I love music and live concerts. My parents brought me to concerts and shows at a very young age and have been to well over 100 live shows. I love being active as I go to the gym 4-5 days a week, play in a 30+ baseball league, and enjoy all of the hiking, camping, and skiing that the PNW has to offer. I also enjoy philosophy, learning about personal development, and anything that makes me laugh (I admit to watching SNL religiously and attending live stand-up whenever I can!)