I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the states of Washington, Utah, and Arizona. I have 40 years of clinical experience working with adults, adolescents, children, couples, and families.
I lived and worked in Seattle for 26 years. In 2016 I moved to southern Utah for the mountains and red rocks I love. My move was toward an eventual retirement. But I'm not ready to retire! I love the work I do. Years ago I chose to be of service and I'm glad that I did. I have a deep respect for personal struggles. But I also have great confidence in the therapeutic process based on the transformations I've witnessed in the lives of the men, women, and young people with whom I've been privileged to work.
I specialize in working with complex trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD recovery, stress disorders, addiction, relationships, blended family issues, extended family issues, and the treatment of postpartum depression. I'm compassionate. My style is active and direct. I have experience working with high-functioning corporate professionals, artists, college students, first responders, and people who have been in therapy for years but seek a more natural and integrative approach. I have clients who are therapists themselves. I also work with people new to therapy who wish to build a more solid foundation for their emotional health. The heart of what I do is create and protect the space for clients to address personal issues and whatever barriers are keeping them from moving forward in life.
I use evidence-based approaches including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Rational-Emotive Cognitive Therapy. In Seattle I taught the MBSR, Jon Kabat-Zinn's 'Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction' course. It's one of the best practices I know and I integrate elements of it whenever appropriate. It's most effective in working with anxiety as well as targeting the very roots of addictive behaviors. I weave an element of psych/education throughout the work because I believe this will help you apply what we are talking about in sessions and empower you to create the most effective and lasting changes you're seeking.
As a therapist I draw not only on my education, but also on my life experiences as a woman, a daughter, a sister, a wife, and a mother. I am by nature interested in the world around me and continue to educate myself both formally and informally. In 1993, I began practicing Vipassana, a Buddhist form of sitting/walking meditation which continues to support me personally and has informed my work over the years.
I advocate living life with integrity and compassion. Change is hard. Most of us resist change for fear of what's unknown in the future. I understand that it takes courage to reach out for help. If you want to work with me, bring your grit and your honesty, and most importantly a strong commitment to yourself. I'm here to help.
Photo by Ceza