AREAS OF WORK

Individuals

Often the contradiction between who we want to be, and the reality of who we are, creates tension that can numb or paralyze us in potentially harmful ways. Every person has a rich story to tell based on their unique life journey that includes both triumph and pain. Counseling is a safe place to tell that story in an objective environment where one can feel the freedom to process through difficult circumstances and choices in order to find their own best resolutions. Adversity is as much a part of one's story as the joy, and a very normal part of life. A life of covering up or ignoring challenge is a life of denial that can manifest itself in depression, anxiety, illness or a myriad of mental and/or physical health issues. It is an act of courage to open the door for healing and growth to take place. Counseling is an opportunity to take a look at one's story and create a more meaningful life.

Common areas of counseling for individuals include: personal growth, problem solving, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, life transitions, self-worth, abuse survivors, coping with miscarriage and infertility, relational difficulty, boundaries, spiritual issues and chronic pain or illness.

Couples

As relational human beings, the most powerful and influential adult relationship we can have is that with our spouse or partner. This is where we can experience the most fulfillment and in turn the most frustration. It is usually the people who know us best who can hurt us the most. It is vital to our well-being that we experience healthy and positive ways of relating in this most intimate of relationships. Couples therapy offers a safe place for couples to examine the conflicts with which they are struggling, the emotional disengagement they are experiencing or to find enrichment and reinforcement for building a long-standing relationship.

Common areas of counseling for couples include: communication, making decisions together, family of origin issues, conflict-resolution, premarital therapy, re-marriage, relational enrichment, sex, dealing with trauma or loss as a couple, miscarriage, infertility, finding intimacy after baby and after children move away from home, and co-parenting after divorce. I draw mainly from the Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples model as well as John Gottman's resources and research for couples counseling and offer in depth assessment resources to look at a variety of issues couples may be facing.

Family Therapy

Families by design are meant to be a shelter where each member finds the love, nurturing, and safety they need to face the world with security. There are times in the course of every family where conflict arises, tragedy hits, an individual or relationship unexpectedly changes, or it just feels impossible to see eye-to-eye. Families can often feels trapped in misunderstandings and hurtful or closed-off communication. With a wealth of training, education and work with families, I am keenly aware of the incredible impact family members can have upon one another, both positively and negatively. I help families work through conflict by mediating in a way that honors each individual person and the family as a whole. By creating new ways of relating, families build a strong foundation for ongoing reconciliation and healing.

Common areas of counseling for families include: better communication, conflict resolution, developmental stages (i.e. -entering the teen years, empty nest), pre-school and elementary behavior, parent-child conflict, adoption, transition (i.e. moving, new school), loss, step-families, best-case scenario divorce, working through diversity as a family, reconciling differences on life and faith perspectives.

Adolescents and Children

My first goal in working with young people is to create a non-threatening and non-judgmental atmosphere where they feel the freedom to express themselves in ways that are genuine. This building of trust and rapport is key to working towards bringing about positive change in their lives. I highly value the role of children within families and feel their voice is of utmost importance. Drawing from over a decade of experience in working specifically with adolescents and children, I am able to build easy connections and foster a creative, fun and meaningful counseling environment. My modes of treatment include art therapy, play therapy, outdoor activity, multimedia and staying engaged with current research about youth culture.

Common areas of work with adolescents and children include: family and friend relationships, stress, anxiety, depression, physical symptoms of stress (stomach aches, headaches, sleep trouble) social anxiety, behavior and conduct issues, difficulty in school and other social settings, bullying and harassment, low self esteem, eating disorders, self-injury, grief, coping with transition, and goal setting.