About

In May 1998, I was awarded a Master of Science degree in Counseling and Guidance from Texas A & M University-Commerce. I graduated with honors as a member of the Chi Sigma Iota Academic Counseling Honor Society. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology in 1995. I have over 22 years of experience working in the mental health field.

CREDENTIALS
I am licensed by the State of North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC; 5478)

COUNSELING BACKGROUND:
I have been a psychotherapist in private and group practices, various psychiatric hospitals, as well as at a domestic violence shelter for women and children. I am an experienced presenter and have provided professional training for continuing education to other professionals in the mental health field, in major cities within the United States.
I have much experience working with a wide range of clients, from children to the elderly. I provide individual, couples, group, and family counseling. I provide consultation and mediation services as well as present in-service training for local businesses and am often invited to speak at grief and divorce support meetings.

A type of therapy that I often utilize is called Cognitive-Behavioral therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy values and empowers the individual to take control of his/her life through psycho-education with a vast array of techniques specific to individual diagnosis or needs. Unconditional self-regard is extended to include the unconditional regard of others, which is congruent with my strengths-based values. The goal of CBT is to allow a client to take control of his/her problems and to manage life in a healthy adaptive way.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy assumes that both the individual and the environment are of fundamental importance and that therapy outside of a holistic approach would be an injustice to the client. Fixing cognitive dysfunctions is not possible without the involvement of behavior and fixing behavioral dysfunctions is not possible without the involvement of cognition. The cognitive model hypothesizes that people’s thoughts and feelings are not determined by a situation, but by their interpretation and construction of the situation. Recognizing this discrepancy, CBT seeks to modify the dysfunctional core beliefs that result in automatic thoughts which trigger emotion in any given situation. Behavioral methods are often used to accomplish this task and education components are often coupled with client homework.

Several Principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are:
Adapted from Cognitive Therapy: Basics and Beyond by Judy Beck (1995).
CBT is based on an ever-evolving formulation of the patient and his/her problems in cognitive terms.
CBT requires a good client-therapist relationship.
CBT emphasizes collaboration and active participation.
CBT is goal-oriented and problem-focused.
CBT initially emphasizes the present.
CBT is educative; it aims to teach the client to be his/her own therapist and emphasizes relapse prevention.
CBT aims to be time-limited.
CBT sessions are structured.
CBT teaches patients to identify, evaluate, and respond to their dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs.
CBT uses a variety of techniques to change thinking, mood, and behavior. I have experience and am skilled in other types of psychotherapy, including Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Behavior Therapy, and Family Therapy.

I am a "down-to-earth" therapist that believes greatly in creating an environment for my clients that is accepting, creating a "no judgment zone", to assist my clients in moving toward being open and vulnerable with very personal, often painful experiences. I utilize Cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, supportive, and trauma-informed counseling approaches when working with clients. I believe that it is important to have a "Client-centered approach" with each individual. This is of utmost importance. We all have come from different places and have had different life experiences. I meet the client where the client is, in this process, we call life. Life doesn't have to be an ongoing struggle. Let's work together for change and healing with a goal being to enjoy this process of life and journey.

"When we are looking for compassion, we need someone who is deeply rooted, able to bend, and most of all, someone who embraces us for our strengths and our struggles"~ B Brown

I look forward to working with you!