I have two graduate degrees in the field (Behavioral Medicine/Health Psychology and Professional Counseling) and am a licensed behavioral health clinician in both Texas & California. My experience includes working with individuals and groups with a wide range of mental health, substance use, and basic counseling issues. I believe we all need help at points of our life and, if we are willing to ask for it, the support and guidance can be invaluable.
My approach is typically rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, but I believe it is important to use a multitude of approaches based on an individual's needs. I often find it helpful to clients to be goal, solution, and action-focused, if only to have a measure of tracking progress and to better understand the desired outcome in counseling. Regardless of therapeutic strategies, the most important factor to me is creating an environment where my clients feel wholly safe, accepted, and sincerely heard,
My primary focus in initial sessions is to listen to and understand my client's current experience in life, as well as any relevant personal history. In order to provide effective support and guidance, I need to have a clear conception of my client's living reality. I also like to leave time to answer any questions and to discuss client expectations, to be as transparent as possible about my services.
