Did you grow up in a family where your needs were ignored, where you felt responsible for everyone else’s happiness, or where your best was never quite good enough?  Has fear of failure, rejection or abandonment robbed you from being fully engaged in life?

If this sounds like you – I can help!  I want you to know there is a way out of the pain and the shame. You don’t have to remain stuck in the unhealthy patterns of being. There is a way forward.  Healing and growth are possible.

My Approach

The tools I provide you with are tools I have been honing for the past 10 years.  My goal is to help clients break free of unhealthy ways of being and find new ways of being and relating.  My approach is insight–oriented, interactive, warm and accepting.  I integrate proven non-judgmental techniques to assist clients heal from childhood wounds, increase self-awareness and experience personal growth. When appropriate, I utilize art, expressive writing, humor, gratefulness, as well as other experiential and mindfulness practices. For the past 10 years, my work with clients has focused on helping them lead a more authentic, courageous and fulfilling life.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
~ Carl Jung

My Style

In our work together, I will guide the therapy process towards increasing awareness, offering new perspectives and fresh insights.  This means you can expect our interaction together to be focused on your unique experience, in the here and now, while also exploring deeper underlying root causes and issues.  I will teach you how to quiet your inner critic and give voice to greater confidence, encouragement and possibilities. You will learn to develop and maintain healthy boundaries and connect with your authentic self and the things that make you truly unique.   You will learn how to respond to yourself in a kinder, more accepting and compassionate way during times of difficulty.  Together we will uncover your inner strengths, so you can live the life of freedom you have longed for.

Therapy with me is a transformative process that can help you move towards finding, being and living– not only the best version of yourself, but the true version of yourself.

You’re a butterfly, and butterflies are free to fly
Fly away, High away!
~Elton John

Why Work with Me?

I believe that you are the real expert of  your life; therefore, I endeavor to come along side as a supportive guide.  I see the therapeutic process being similar to a puzzle in progress. Clients provide the pieces that compose their lives; my role is to work collaboratively with the client to help bring together all of those pieces to create a whole, complete picture, story and life.

I meet you where you are, and I am with you every step of the way.  I realize that your needs are important and unique to you and I tailor our work together to fit your unique needs.  I provide a Safe Place to BE for you to truly BE YOU.  In this safe space, I provide a caring, non-judgmental, supportive presence and a listening ear so that you feel heard and validated.  I firmly believe the relationship between the therapist and the client is one of the most important aspects of successful therapy.  And connecting with my clients is my greatest asset.

My Values and Beliefs

If you are looking for a safe place to invite God into your healing process, you have come to the right place. I offer Faith-Based Christian Counseling upon request. I know for some clients working with a therapist who understands their faith and shares their values is a priority.  I understand the importance of integrating one’s faith into the healing process, particularly for those holding strong spiritual convictions.  Because our spiritual beliefs help shape how we see and interact with the world, those beliefs can play an essential role in the healing process.  I believe that the client is the best person to determine how much and in what way spiritual beliefs are integrated into the therapeutic process.  Some of my clients feel more comfortable incorporating prayer into the session, while others simply want to spend their time talking through what is on their heart.  I tailor the therapy process to your unique needs.  If you are looking for this kind of support, you have come to the right place.

My Personal Interest 

I take pleasure in spending time with my family, watching my grandchildren, and volunteering at my church where I have served on the Women’s Leadership Team for the past 13 years.  In my free time I enjoy cooking, listening to music, playing Backgammon and traveling to tropical destinations. When the opportunity arises, I love to dance, ride wave runners and hike.  But, on most days I appreciate just getting outdoors in the fresh air to play in my garden or take a nature walk with my husband.

My Education, Qualifications, Experience

I am a private practice Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  I earned my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University in 2012.  I have also completed numerous hours of advanced training in grief and loss culminating in my becoming a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist.

In addition to my educational background and 10 plus years of experience as a therapist, I bring the personal life experiences of a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, caregiver, student, and career professional; experience that has provided invaluable insight into navigating life’s challenges and transitions.

I understand what it is like to put a dream on hold, to experience personal and emotional loss, to make difficult transitions, and to take huge risks. I understand both the trials and the blessings of caregiving and walking alongside a loved one who is dying. I understand how overwhelming and disorienting that can be.  I also know how important it is to have a safe someone that knows how to listen and to be there. I know how important it is to feel safe, to feel understood and to feel supported.

Having survived a very stressful and emotionally depleting period in my life where I was stretched thin between a full-time job, parenting responsibilities, caregiving duties, and trying to maintain my marriage and some appearance of normalcy in my life I decided to follow my life-long dream to become a therapist.  At the age of 56, having worked as a bank executive for more than 30 years, I return to school to complete a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Transitions and change can be hard, but is it worth it? —I think it can be!  I believe this is what makes me so passionate about what I do and the people I work with.  I wholeheartedly believe my clients benefit 100% from my personal life experience whether directly or indirectly.  My goal for you is wholeness, not perfection!  Therapy is a process.

Specialties & Areas of Focus

My primary areas of focus include: codependency, grief & loss, life transitions, personal growth, and Faith Based Christian Counseling.  I also have training and experience working with people who suffer with depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, relationship issues, vocational stress, burnout, caregiving stress, and faith issues.

Are you Ready to Begin?

Therapy takes hard work and a strong commitment, but the results can transform your life.  I realize that the investment of your time, energy and resources is valuable.  I want you to know I am committed to this process and grateful that you are considering my counseling practice for this important and sacred work.

Taking a courageous first step can lead to enjoying a more authentic and fulfilling life. If you are looking for a safe place to begin your healing journey, please contact me —And let’s get started!  I look forward to meeting with you! 

The path towards healing, growth and self-discovery is in sight!

Associations

• CAMFT