MHR, LPC, NCC
Thank you for spending your time reading about who I am and my qualifications to help you achieve your mental health goals. I am a Missouri Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in personal growth and counseling services for individuals and couples. I specialize in mood disorders, including anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders. I have considerable knowledge and counseling experience helping individuals and their family with substance use disorders and addiction. I emphasize the importance of having an open, honest, comfortable therapeutic relationship to ensure we are a good fit to set and achieve your goals together.
My undergraduate degree is in Criminal Justice from Chapman University, Orange, California. After a career change, I obtained additional education and training in early childhood development and Elementary Special Education. In 2019, I earned a Master of Human Relations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The University of Oklahoma.
Growing up as a military BRAT and being a long time military spouse, I cultivated deep-rooted passions for building resilience with a genuine understanding of the active-duty and retired military lifestyle of veterans, and their families. Further demonstrated as a Child and Youth Behavioral Military and Family Life Counselor (CYB-MFLC) within Warrensburg Schools and the Whiteman Air Force Base Youth Center. I also have extensive practical experience with law enforcement personnel.
On a more personal level, I am an avid world traveler and lover of foods from any and all cultures. I enjoy spending my free time with my family, friends, and reading or listening to a good book.
Using a trauma informed approach, I help individuals with a variety of mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, bi-polar, ADHD, and adjustment disorders. I work collaboratively with my clients to discover the best methods for implementing healthy lifestyle changes. Emphasizing a strength-based approach, I provide nonjudgmental, empathic, and person-centered therapy to help guide clients through life’s challenges and struggles. Some of the methods used in my session include solution focused, IFS, CBT and other therapeutic modalities to accomplish goals set with the client throughout treatment. I am EMDR trained and integrate treatment sessions where they are beneficial to the client. Additionally, I practice Imago and emotion focus therapy with couples and relationship counseling to foster reconnection and improve communication between each partner.
Throughout treatment I integrate tools, techniques, and helpful homework assignments to educate my client while continuously providing support, information, and practical feedback in order for clients to effectively face personal challenges. I find analogies can be useful to understand patterns, events, thoughts, and behaviors in life. I won't simply tell you that everything is going to be okay. I'll help you look at your situation from a different perspective and come face-to-face with issues that people tend to ignore. Using compassion and understanding, I work with you to build confidence and the personal development that you are committed to achieving.