My Story
Who I am
When I was a teenager, I was influenced by the work of Torey Hayden who was a teacher that worked with children with mental health needs. When I attended college, I did become a teacher, and I then taught private school and homeschooled my three children. I also taught various age groups at the different churches I attended. As my children grew older, I yearned to go back to what I had originally dreamed of doing – counseling people that were hurting. To that end, I attended Richmont University, a unique graduate school that combines psychology with spirituality. I also pursued becoming a registered play therapist. During my internship, I worked at a psych hospital on the adolescent unit, focusing on teens with mood problems and self-destructive behavior. Upon graduating, I received training in DBT – Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and I became the coordinator of the program at the hospital where I had done my internship. Currently, I am working as a play therapist with young kids, and applying DBT principles with teens and adults at my private practice. Those are the facts of my career – but my experience and my compassion come largely through the painful things that I have been through. It is those things that have taught me the most and equipped me with the tools that I have to help others.
What I believe
I believe counseling is most powerful when grounded in unconditional positive regard, therefore I will seek to build a relationship with each person, as well as to help them mend the broken connections in their lives. I love working with people who feel silenced or alone. I seek to help them find their voice and their place through reconnecting with people. Through validation, I help to unlock secrets that have been buried. I work on removing and replacing unhealthy belief systems. I plant seeds of hope for the future as we uncover their unique strengths and abilities and discover what motivates them. In an atmosphere of collaboration, compassion and acceptance, I work towards replacing unhealthy coping strategies with more appropriate ones. I help people grow. I believe in the inherit value and worth of every human being. I foster dreams and a sense of purpose for the future. I help people discover meaning in their painful experiences. Together, we recycle pain so that nothing goes to waste in our lives.
quote from the book, "My Secret Garden"
"Much more surprising things can happen to any one who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable determinedly courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place. Where you tend a rose my lad, a thistle cannot grow.
~ Frances Hodgson Burnette