About

You’ve just taken the first step to feeling better and reaching your goals. Starting therapy can be intimidating for some people, so I hope to put your mind at ease by providing some information about myself and what you can expect from me. I’ve been a counselor for nearly twenty years and I am licensed in Illinois and Missouri. I got my master’s degree in counseling from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I have worked with clients from all different backgrounds ages 1 through adulthood and am an LGBTQ affirmative therapist. I’ve also worked in several settings including schools, residential programs, Early Intervention in-home services, and private practice. Just be yourself! Some people want to know what my “style” is. First, I am very client-centered. While I may be the “expert” on therapy tools and strategies, I believe that you are the expert on you. That means that I won’t ever tell you what to do. I like to think of myself as a guide. Together we can explore the issues you’re dealing with, organize them so they start to make sense, and plan out how best to solve them. Therapy is definitely a team sport and will take effort from both of us. The tools I use come from many different approaches to therapy because there’s not a one size fits all approach. We can discuss what best suits your issues as well as what you’ll be most comfortable with. The approaches I draw most heavily from are solution-focused, mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral, and trauma-informed therapy. This means I tend to focus more on the present and future goals and often help people identify and change thoughts and behaviors getting in their way.