I have been licensed in Missouri since 2007 and through the years I have worked with children, teens and adults in group and therapeutic settings. Outside of a traditional counseling setting, I have worked with youth, adults and families within the Missouri Foster Care system for the majority of my career.
A little history on how I got here! Growing up, I wanted to be a rockstar, teacher, ballerina, and veterinarian. What I ended up realizing is that I had a pull towards wanting to understand human behavior and to help people be the best versions of themselves. I went to a small liberal arts college and majored in psychology and then attended Saint Louis University for my Masters degree in Community Counseling, graduating in 2004. And here I am!
During my professional career, I have gained an understanding of the affects of Trauma and how to identify and process trauma responses. I have training in EMDR which provides me an understanding around how stuck points connected to life experiences can keep an individual from moving forward. I am very solution focused in my approach and I want to help the client identify ways to move forward without getting bogged down in the past. Most of all, I believe the most important part of counseling is to provide an active ear and to be present while walking through an experience with the client. The client is the expert in their life and my purpose is to help them to see what they already know, which is all the strength they bring to the table.
Additional areas of focus: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Family conflicts, Grief, Self esteem, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coping with life changes, ADHD, Adoption and Foster Care, Communication problems
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
MO LPC 2007016305