"You're so easy to talk to" is something I often hear from my clients. I think they say that because I am present and engaged in our conversations. I am truly interested in getting to know my clients. Each story is unique, and solutions require a deep understanding of those individual stories. I listen, closely, and I ask questions that ensure that I am understanding what my clients are saying (or not saying). My clients decide what goals they want to work toward, and together we develop a plan to accomplish those goals. I am committed to fully accepting my clients, without judgment, regardless of what they share with me. I bring energy and creativity to my work with clients, and even in the most difficult circumstances, clients report they enjoy working with me. I don't believe that people are broken - I believe each client is doing their very best to cope with the difficult life circumstances they face.
I have been working as a therapist, in Missouri, for 15 years. I have worked with a wide variety of issues including, but not limited to, anxiety/panic, depression, abuse, trauma, PTSD, relational difficulties, intense emotions, attachment issues, suicidality, and self-harm. I educate all my clients and I ask them to do homework outside of our therapy sessions. I teach strategies to manage difficult emotions, and my clients learn to find calm as they use these strategies. When appropriate, I work with clients to heal from the impact of deep wounding by revisiting traumatic experiences with an approach called EMDR.
Therapy is hard work, but for those who are ready to engage in the process, it has the potential to be tremendously rewarding. If you are ready to do the work, I am ready to help you. Let's get started!
Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Self esteem, Coping with life changes, ADHD, Abandonment, Attachment issues, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Dissociation, Domestic Violence, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and Discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-Harm, Self-love, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Women's issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
MO LPC 2005038675