Choosing Your Therapist
Therapy can be an effective treatment for mental and emotional problems. But in order to reap its benefits, it’s important to choose the right therapist—someone you trust who makes you feel cared for and has the experience to help you make changes for the better in your life. A good therapist helps you to focus on your strengths and becoming more self-aware. But your therapist cannot do the work for you. In order to make the most of your sessions, you must be an active participant.
What To Expect
During the initial session I will complete an assessment which includes reviewing personal history, and the nature of goals you want to work on. I will then tailor my clinical skills to meet your needs. My style is empathetic and non-biased, providing a compassionate atmosphere for you to share. Together we will navigate your journey towards wellness.
Counseling/Psychotherapy
I provide counseling services to address a presenting concern which brought you in for treatment. Counseling can be a helpful tool to examine how thoughts, feelings and emotions relate to our behaviors. I will work with you to break down your problem into manageable, workable steps to achieve your desired goals. Getting to the route of a concern through talk therapy can foster growth by acknowledging old ways of coping and examining if they are helpful, developing healthy coping strategies, and increase overall self-awareness. This process could take a few sessions or more long term depending on the nature of the issue. Through highlighting strengths and building self-esteem we can work together to get you where you want to be.
Bereavement
As a hospice social worker, I have experience working with people who are coping with illness and loss. I understand that everyone deals with grief differently. Processing a loss can be painful yet rewarding. Although a person may not physically be with us, they always live on in our thoughts and memories. Acknowledging these things can be an important part of healing.
Bereavement may not only be about death, but it can include grieving the loss or decline in physical or mental functioning. This process often happens as someone ages and loses independence, has a traumatic event, or is experiencing illness leading to a decline. Symptoms of grief can present as sadness, depression, guilt, anger, and denial. Talking about this transition can help gain awareness and acceptance to increase overall well being.
Mindfulness Based Therapy
Mindfulness is the act of paying attention on purpose with a non-judgmental intention in order to lead a present and fulfilling life. This presence includes a process, being able to retrain our thoughts and open our awareness to what is happening in each individual moment and experience. Through this we learn that our thoughts do not define who we are.
Awareness can focus on any of the senses: touch, sound, taste, sight, and smell. Often times, the breath is used as a refocusing tool to bring our minds from our thoughts and judgments to our present moment awareness. I use a variety of techniques to help guide you towards becoming more self aware and present throughout your daily life.
Mindfulness techniques can be a useful tool for anxiety and depression by assisting with detaching from our negative thought processes and and decrease our own judgments of how we act and feel. Changing the thought “I hate feeling this way” to “This feeling is uncomfortable, but temporary”. This transfer of judgement to acceptance is the act of living with our present thoughts and feelings, therefore being mindful.
I can help you with your process of detaching from negative thoughts, to build self-esteem, self-awareness, and accomplish your goals.
Issues I can Help With
ADHD
Career Counseling
Codependency
Coping Skills
Divorce
Emotional Disturbance
Family Conflict
Life Coaching
Marital and Premarital
Peer Relationships
Relationship Issues
Self Esteem
Sleep or Insomnia
Stress Management
Women's Issues
Payment
Cost per session $80-150 based on sliding scale
Accepted payment forms: cash and credit cards
Out-of-network insurance (PPO) accepted
I can assist with receipt and process of reimbursement from your insurance company