About Therapy
There are so many things you’ve never said out loud.
Even to yourself, you hate to admit them. The way you feel, the secrets you hide… what would people think if they knew?
The truth is when you do finally talk about them, shed some light on them, you start to feel better. I get it. That sounds scary, doesn’t it? Therapy is being vulnerable, and that can be scary.
But therapy can also be relieving and empowering. To finally be your whole self in a safe and supportive place. Therapy is about being seen, heard, understood, and after all that – respected.
Finding a good therapist is like finding a best friend.
Sometimes it takes a little bit, but when you find them, you know it.
As your therapist, you will feel listened to and truly heard. I trust your perspective, your experiences, thoughts, and emotions. I’m in your corner, and I want what’s best for you.
I will make sure that you control the process and understand the direction we’re going and why.
A comfortable, safe, judgment-free environment…
If you’re going to open the closet and bring out all the skeletons, you want to feel safe and comfortable, right? I know I did when I was in your shoes!
My office is in a quiet office building without a lot of traffic, people, or commotion. Because of this, my office is calm and relatively noise-free – making it clear of distractions. This allows me and my clients to have the mental and emotional energy to focus on them and their needs. With lots of natural light, plants, and fidget toys nearby (sometimes the hands need to be busy!), you will be able to take a deep breath and use this space to create the change you crave.
And while it should go without saying, there is nothing you say or share that will be met with judgment or criticism.
Here’s a quick peek at what it looks like…
The first step will be for me to understand what’s happening in your life – how it’s making you feel and its effect on you, your work, and your relationships.
We’ll want to explore the larger reasons behind the challenges in your life. I’ll support you in peeling back the layers of your painful past, and together we’ll release what’s no longer serving you.
You’ll also learn to build coping skills using well-researched, effective techniques. These skills will help you deal with your daily life stressors.
Therapy takes work, but it can change your life.
You’ve put all the things that make you angry, anxious, and overwhelmed in the closet for a reason!
The idea of opening the door and (carefully and with help!) naming them, taking them out of the closet, and talking about them… it’s tough and can be overwhelming.
It can also be the greatest relief of your life. And that relief… that’s physical and emotional energy freed up because you no longer have to keep the closet door closed. You no longer have to be afraid of what’s in the closet. You feel lighter. You breathe easier and more deeply. You know who you are and why, and you feel empowered because of it.
About Me
My journey to becoming a therapist started when I was a child.
My dad was a yeller. It wasn’t his fault… his dad was a yeller, too.
He tried to stop many (many!) times on his own, but it wasn’t until he and my mom went to therapy that he was able to learn the skills necessary to finally flip the switch.
I saw the success of therapy with my parents, and I benefited from it as an individual working through some deep emotional trauma. I’m now enjoying a much better quality of life because of therapy.
I was 14 when I said I wanted to become a psychologist…
… and I’ve never looked back!
After finishing my bachelor’s degree at Oregon State University (Go Beavers!), I worked leading treatment groups for people with addictions and substance abuse. This was the beginning of my passion for group therapy.
I went back to school and got my master’s degree at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. I was in my last semester of graduate school when the airplanes hit the twin towers in New York City on 9/11. I was living at a graduate residence with people from over 500 different countries at the time. Seeing the impact on so many different people, including the other city residents, sparked my interest in helping people reduce their suffering caused by traumatic events.
I returned to Oregon and began working in community mental health, where I worked with people with debilitating mental illness. Here I learned first-hand the importance of having effective coping skills, quality relationships, and access to psychosocial services.
I went back to school to pursue my doctorate at the School for Professional Psychology at Pacific University. This provided extensive training on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness. I specialized in learning about and working with people involved in the criminal justice systems.
There is nothing you’re going to say that will shock or scare me… I promise!
After I finished all my licensing, I went to work in a federal prison. One of my favorite roles there was doing a voluntary treatment group for individuals serving a life sentence. I worked with men, most of whom were sentenced to life in their early 20’s, who were deeply depressed and without much of anything.
I helped countless men regulate their overwhelming emotions, challenge their destructive thinking, and learn tools to improve their self-awareness and build self-esteem. Bringing hope and helping them to improve their quality of life was invigorating and highly satisfying.
And doing that work has put me in a position to say this: I’ve seen and heard it all (and probably a little bit more)!
In my spare time…
I enjoy hanging out with my husband and our two girls. We like to go for hikes, make meals together, and make sure our Australian cattle dog, a Blue Healer named Oakley, gets her energy out!
It’s time.
It’s time to call or e-mail me today to create the change you’ve always wanted. To learn new skills, do something different, and get a different result.
Reach out today. I can’t wait to hear from you: (971) 915-0195.