About

I earned a Master’s Degree of Arts in Art Therapy with a Mental Health Counseling track from Saint Mary of the Woods College, Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. I am a Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) and a member of The American Art Therapy Association, as well as the North Carolina Art Therapy Association. Additionally, I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and a member of the Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling Association of North Carolina. I also hold a Missouri K-12 Art teacher’s license from the United States Department of Education via a bachelor’s degree from Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Missouri.

I have 9 years of counseling experience. I have conducted individual, group, and family counseling sessions with children, adolescents, and adults. I have worked in an adult vocational day program, residential substance abuse treatment facility, pediatric day clinic, a K-8: day treatment program, a North Carolina state funded Independent Living Program, and an active duty, adult outpatient behavioral health clinic/intensive outpatient program. My training and experiences include but are not limited to the military and civilian populations: children, adolescents and adults with behavior disorders; physical, psychological, and emotional abuse, and trauma victims; the Autism spectrum community; learning disabilities; anxiety disorders; depression; adjustment disorders; intellectual / developmental disabilities; traumatic brain injury; post-traumatic stress disorder; substance use disorders; as well as major mental illness including schizophrenia and dual diagnosis, plus those with co-existing physical disabilities and their caretakers.

My theoretical approach is eclectic. I believe in integrating various styles to best fit individual goals and needs. I view individuals from a person-centered orientation, providing guidance towards self-expression and self-exploration. I often find cognitive behavioral techniques to be useful in helping people make changes in their thoughts and actions, and employ dialectical behavior techniques to help cope with emotions and demeanor. To help more clearly define goals and objectives, I typically utilize a solution focused approach. I also have a very strong belief in the power of art and psychodynamic theory to help people find new ways to express their feelings and heal. I am comfortable in using talk therapy in addition to the expressive arts in sessions.