About

Hello! Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my profile.

I have been employed as a helping professional for over twenty five years. For the first several years of my professional life, I dealt mainly with addictions and the impacts of addiction on the family. I have enjoyed my experiences working with both adolescents and adults. I was drawn to this work due in part, to my own experiences with people very close to me whose lives were affected by addiction.

I have earned Licensure as a Professional Counselor, and am a Nationally Certified Counselor. I am also a licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Additionally, I have earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, a Graduate Certification in Holistic Health, and Certification as an Approved Clinical Supervisor. I am also a Licensed Auricular Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist.

My approach to healing is holistic; that is, I encourage clients to look at all areas of their lives, (physical, spiritual, emotional, and social) and do my best to assist them toward achieving the balance that I believe can promote long term, overall health. I believe that achieving this balance is a process, and as each person is different, so must each process be uniquely tailored to the individual. I enjoy working with my clients to design a personalized plan designed to help them identify the life areas that they would like to adjust, and assist them toward addressing existing attitudes, ideas, and behaviors which might interfere with personal goals for growth and change.

Together we will decide which of these are no longer useful, and we will begin to explore alternative attitudes, ideas and behaviors. For some, assignments and “homework” will be a part of the therapeutic process. For others, techniques like creative visualization, guided imagery, meditation, and natural relaxation exercises will be a part of treatment. Many of my clients choose to engage in the use of support groups, and/or self help literature, in addition to therapy. Some individuals choose to try these approaches instead of treatment. We will work together to figure out which approach is most beneficial to you. Once a decision is made to enter into counseling, I will work with you to determine the length and frequency of treatment that is best suited to your needs.

The duration of counseling will be determined to suit your needs, with your input. In some circumstances it may become apparent that an individual will benefit most from the services of (an) other professional(s), or specialist(s). In this event, we can discuss the situation, and make a decision together about a referral to (a) trusted and competent specialist(s) who can meet your additional needs.

This is your process: I am here to facilitate and support you to the best of my ability. While you are in this process, you may experience a number of feelings. Some will be pleasant, and others may be uncomfortable, or even painful. Often family and friends are threatened by the process of change in a loved one, and relationships can change. Sometimes even positive change is accompanied by loss. I encourage clients to talk about whatever they are experiencing, and I am confident that those who are willing to commit to this process will gain positive results. Sometimes the benefits come in the form of a sense of relief and newfound freedom, and/or in the form of improved relationships with others. Sometimes they come in the form of improved self-esteem and self -confidence, and sometimes they manifest in a greater sense of personal strength and inner peace.