Counseling and Social Work have been my vocation for more than 40 years. Areas of expertise include Grief, Depression, Anxiety and Trauma. I have worked within Mental Health, Medical, and Hospice environments as well as private practice. I am warm, supportive, and respectful and build upon one's strengths in the therapeutic process. I am a strong believer in our ability to cope and adapt to change and have witnessed over and over again the magnitude of human resiliency.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is my foundation. I believe that what we think affects how we feel. I cannot teach someone to feel happy or less anxious but I can help a person understand what their thoughts are about particular situations and events and then do a reality check to see if those thoughts are actually true or exaggerated. When we understand our thoughts, we are able to educate ourselves and change those thoughts, if we choose to do so. Then and only then will our feelings change.
People's stories and backgrounds are very important to me. I have a very good memory when it comes to people and their lives and most interventions used are a direct result of people's perceptions and experiences shared in our initial session. I am warm and easy to work with and we usually laugh a lot in our sessions. At the same time, initial sessions are often accompanied by strong emotions which brought the person to therapy in the first place. I am supportive and hopefully provide a safe place for my clients to share their thoughts and emotions.
