How young were you when you decided what you wanted to be when you grew up?
Did you end up in that career?
It doesn’t always pan out the way we imagined as a 6-year-old, right? Well, I’m the kid that stuck with it because I knew pretty early on exactly what I was passionate about, and perhaps due to stubbornness—or maybe just driven?—I became that person. At age 11, I made the declaration that I wanted to be an art therapist. (Thank you YM magazine for featuring the profession!)
So, my journey into helping others began early in life. It’s been reinforced over and over that it was the right choice.
Clinical experience and approach
I have been working within the mental health field since 2007, partnering with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. My clinical approach utilizes an integrative perspective to accommodate individual client’s needs. This perspective is characterized by openness to various ways of incorporating diverse theories and techniques. I find that I most often utilize interventions and approaches pulled from Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy in my work. Additionally, my roots in art therapy make for a creative thread woven throughout my approach. I believe this integrative orientation has been successful with my clients in improving their emotional health and increasing insight so they can better understand how they function in their world, and what they may want to be different. My approach is non-judgmental, empathic, culturally humble, and where appropriate humorous. I aim to help each client feel a level of safety and trust that allows them to be vulnerable and begin to explore what brought them to counseling in the first place. As needed, I then present challenges and therapeutic confrontations from a place of respect, where it is intended to come from. I seek to understand the experiences of others, and with that I consider it my ethical duty to recognize my privilege as a cis white female, and I am proud to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and am on an ongoing self-journey to better understand the systemic and individual challenges for people of color.
Education and Certifications
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and hold a certification as a Certified Family Trauma Professional with the International Association of Trauma Professionals. My graduate degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School was in Art Therapy and Counseling, as I have always been passionate about the integration of creative arts in healing. I have had additional training and experience working with individuals through online counseling, and find this an amazing avenue to meet those that may not have the access to in-office therapy. Additionally, I am a Certified Family Trauma Professional and a Certified EMDR Therapist.
The therapeutic relationship is one of, if not the most important ingredient to counseling, because without the feeling of safety, compassion, and genuineness, there is no theory or approach to counseling that will be effective.
Issues that individuals who see me may experience:
- depression and other mood disorders
- anxiety disorders
- stress and life changes
- marriage and family conflict
- self-esteem and low confidence
- identity concerns
I am hopeful that I can be even a small part of assisting you in your journey to wellness and peace!
