About

Hello,
I have been working with adolescents and teens for the past 5 years and in a variety of settings with adolescents and adults. I started out as a therapist working with teens from 17-21 who were incarcerated using an approach called Moral Reconation Therapy which is a process that tries to alter the way decisions are being made. I then continued my journey with the same non-profit organization working with adolescents and their families dealing with substance use, trauma, and mental health. I have been doing this for the last few years and work closely with the family courts, and detention centers trying to stop the cycle of incarceration and substance use. I also work with adults that are dealing with substance use issues, trauma, and mental health issues. I have been a mentor to women who are learning self love and care and how to live independently or in healthy relationships. I have worked in the fields of domestic violence, substance use, mental health, and some LGBTQ. I am versed in trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance use. Here are some of the approaches I tend to use the most.
Person centered- allowing the person to make the choices that will affect their lives along with guidance from the therapist.
Solution focused – Future focused and goal directed, getting to the solution rather than focusing on the problem.
Cognitive Behavioral - challenging and changing negative schemas about self and focusing on improving thoughts, behaviors, and emotion regulation.
A-CRA Adolescent community reinforcement approach - improves access to interpersonal and environmental reinforcers to reduce or stop substance use. Can also be used with adults.
Motivational Interviewing - client centered to elicit behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence
EMDR trained and certification in progress