My draw to become a therapist came to me because I saw first hand how difficult it can be to navigate trauma and life transitions.  Having someone by your side to hold space and provide compassion and encouragement can be life changing. Navigating my teenage years and transitioning to college, adulthood, marriage, (college again) and motherhood (and college again) was not an easy path.  While I was trying to find myself and attempting to navigate the stresses in my life, my body began to fail me and I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease.  It took many years for me to make lifestyle changes that eventually got me on a smoother path.  Our experiences are what brings us to this point in our lives, but we do not have to hold on to the feelings associated with trauma.  It is important to face unhealed wounds in order to regain control, and therapy is a great place to unpack those unhealed wounds.  

As a therapist, I work with clients to help heal past wounds and uncover coping skills that work with their personality and lifestyle.  Therapy is not one size fits all and it’s important that you connect with your therapist and their approaches.  My goal is to have clients feel more confident as they continue through their journey of life.  Areas that might be addressed include: communication skills, healthy boundaries, coping skills, identifying thoughts that contribute to behavior, mindfulness, setting goals, healing past trauma, etc. 
 

 

Therapy is a supportive, non judgmental place for a person to express how they are feeling.  As clinicians, it is our job to connect the dots to help a person understand why their feelings are showing up for them and how to move forward by healing the soul, strengthening communication skills/boundaries, and using coping skills.  This is an individualized journey and the destination is different for everyone.  Oftentimes, I will compare mental health therapy to physical therapy.  If you have tension in your neck, scheduling physical therapy sessions can help you feel better.  If you have feelings of sadness, anxiety, stress, guilt or shame, therapy can be a place to unpack those feelings to allow yourself to live a more joyful, present life.