Helping People Heal and Find Freedom
My Views on Therapy
Therapy is a unique environment to evaluate our life, to grieve, heal relational wounds, assess relationships and improve one’s quality of life.
Therapy is challenging because change and reviewing your story requires a great deal of courage, perseverance and emotional energy.
I view childhood as a time where our brain develops significant patterns in the way we think and behave. I view therapy as a time to identify and change unhelpful patterns and develop helpful ones.
Therapy can help identify habits and beliefs from our past. These habits and beliefs hinder us from the life and relationships that we desire.
My Approach
I view therapy as a partnership where we work together to discover insights and create change.
I approach therapy from a systemic perspective that is mindful of human interconnectedness.
I draw from a variety of theories, research and tools such as Developmental and Attachment Theory, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Lifespan Integration (LI), John Gottman’s research and techniques, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).
I work with clients on various issues such as relational and identity problems, anxiety, PTSD, depression, grief, addictions and trauma recovery.
My Views on Trauma
Big and little traumas can disrupt and hinder the body’s natural healing process. Therapy provides ways to identify these obstacles and create change so the body can heal.
Trauma can imprint information into the part of our brain that isn’t accessible by language. This results in body memories and feelings that we have a hard time making sense of.
Many of the traumas we experience are from relational wounds. Therapy is a unique relationship where we seek to heal relational wounds.
Education:
I received my Masters of Arts in Counseling from George Fox University and achieved my undergraduate degree from Multnomah University. Outside of my degrees, I have taken courses specializing in trauma recovery. Some of my continuing education includes Play Therapy with Abused and Traumatized Children; Sensory Motor Psychotherapy; Certification in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); Lifespan Integration (LI) Level 1; Domestic Violence Training; and Trauma and Abuse Recovery training. I enjoy learning and participate in ongoing supervision, specialty training, and education.
Experience:
I have been in private practice since 2008. Before that I worked for two years at a counseling agency focused on trauma recovery. I was an intern-therapist at Washington County Community Corrections working with individuals in the community, as well as with clients on probation or parole. I assisted running a Moral “Reconation” Therapy group, as well as a Family Group. My experience is in helping adults heal from trauma and abuse, process relational issues, spiritual abuse, identity issues, depression, anxiety, grief, shame, life changes, and to become emotionally healthy.
Integration of Spirituality:
I believe that all people reveal the Image of God and are uniquely valuable. Spiritual health is interconnected with our physical, mental, emotional and relational health. I provide an environment that is influenced both by professional and faith-centered values. I understand that many people have been hurt and abused in religious contexts and I hope to provide a safe place to heal from those wounds. This is a safe place to explore various beliefs and experiences. I enjoy working with clients from various faith perspectives.
I believe in the power of love, hope and faith to redeem our pain.