I am a licensed professional counselor in Georgia with over 20 years of experience working as a mental health counselor and school counselor. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including but not limited to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, anger management, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges and ADHD. As a licensed professional counselor, I believe that it is important to help every client fulfill the greatest expression of him or herself intellectually, socially and emotionally. Therefore, as a counselor, it is my responsibility to make sure that my clients’ therapeutic experiences are positive and comprehensive in nature. In order to accomplish this mission, I focus on: (1) providing a conducive counseling environment (2) creating engaging learning opportunities, and (3) encouraging application and introspection for continuous growth.
A conducive counseling environment is a friendly, approachable atmosphere that supports risk taking and sharing of ideas. I believe that clients are more responsive when they feel welcomed and heard. As a practitioner, I believe it is very important to be empathetic to my client’s concerns. This helps me stay informed of any issues to offer possible solutions. Additionally, I believe it is critical to establish clear goals and expectations at the beginning of the therapeutic relationship. During sessions, I believe several strategies should be utilized to encourage self-reflection and management; however, it is also important to conduct progress checks throughout the course of treatment to help clients stay on track and to promote successful outcomes. I believe reflecting on goals and celebrating small wins helps clients stay engaged and be active participants in their own change.
Equally important to a conducive counseling environment is having the opportunity for clients to learn skills that are meaningful and relevant to one’s life and interests. I believe that in order for clients to construct knowledge, they need the opportunity to explore and practice skills in authentic situations. Therefore, inviting client dialogue and encouraging feedback about what the client has learned allows the client to connect with skills/strategies and apply them in real world situations. Engaging discussions and activities are critical in ensuring a successful therapeutic experience.
In order to obtain successful outcomes, I believe in sustaining engagement and providing continuous encouragement of application of skills learned will in turn encourage growth. I also believe in conducting ongoing informal assessments to check for understanding and skill retention. This can be accomplished by using role plays or questioning scenarios or other activities. To make it more engaging, sometimes I may utilize interactive activities such as interactive questionnaires, smart lab, flip grid, interactive power points and kahoot. These activities provide valuable information regarding a client’s insights, talents and abilities which provides me with the necessary information that I can build upon to help my clients reach his/her goals. These activities also provide clients to an opportunity to reflect on their individual application of skills learned. I believe “reflecting” on things that you have learned is essential for continuous growth and life-long learning.
Additional areas of focus: Anger management, Coaching, ADHD, Communication problems, Family Problems, Fertility Issues, Impulsivity, Life purpose, Money and financial issues, Pregnancy and childbirth, Self-love, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy