ABOUT ME

I am a trained counselor educator (Ph.D.) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-R) with more than twenty-five years of psychotherapy experience. My work reflects a deep respect for the uniqueness of every individual, and I seek to create an inclusive and welcoming space for people of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs. As a Christian, I integrate spiritual perspectives when clients find this approach meaningful and beneficial.  I also value maintaining a healthy sense of humor and strive to balance a fulfilling professional life with personal well-being. The principles that guide my life and work are drawn from three core values:

• Integrity – living with character, consistency, and transparency
• Authenticity – being genuine, real, and honest with myself and others
• Compassion – fostering safety, empathy, and mercy toward others

I certainly don’t claim to embody these perfectly, but I work daily to practice the same principles I encourage in others.  Beyond counseling individuals and families, I also:

• Provide clinical supervision for licensed therapists and graduate/doctoral students

• Speak at conferences, workshops, and professional gatherings locally and nationally

• Offer psychological consultation services to nonprofit agencies and educational institutions

• Teach at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels

• Write publications including peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and reviews

Therapeutically, I draw from several schools of thought to meet each client where they are. My approach integrates practical, evidence-based methods—such as those found in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)—with the understanding that many people can experience meaningful relief in a relatively brief time frame. I also hold that every person possesses multiple strengths, the capacity for self-compassion, and the ability to change through the experience of a genuine and supportive therapeutic relationship. Above all, I believe that counseling is most effective when it involves a “real” person who can connect with others authentically and humanly.

Some of the core beliefs that guide my work include:

• Individuals are part of interconnected systems—family, work, and community—and what we do (or don’t do) affects those systems (Bowen, Satir, Schwartz).
• Individuals encounter developmental tasks and challenges at key life stages (Erikson, Kohlberg).
• Individuals are free to make choices, but this freedom is best balanced by personal responsibility (Frankl, Yalom).
• Individuals are accountable for their own thoughts, feelings, and actions (Adler, Glasser).
• Individuals are shaped both by their past and by the person they hope to become (Jung).
• Individuals are powerfully influenced by their social and cultural environments (Adler, White).
• Individuals can find meaning in all circumstances, even those that involve suffering (Frankl, Kierkegaard).
• Individuals can experience deeper contentment when they learn to appreciate and live fully in the present moment (Linehan, Perls).
• Individuals can learn from their mistakes and cultivate self-compassion and acceptance (Ellis).
• Individuals achieve genuine therapeutic change through relationships marked by presence, empathy, and authenticity (Nouwen, Rogers, Yalom).

2014: M.S., Higher Education Administration, University of Rochester

2008: Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision: Regent University 

2000: M.S.W., Social Work: Roberts Wesleyan College 

1992: B.A., Communication Arts: Roberts Wesleyan College 

2023: Internal Family Systems - Level 1

2019: Certified Integrative Mental Health Practitioner

2012: Licensed Clinical Social Worker "R" (Reimbursement) Privilege 

2012: Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) 

2011: Eye Movement Desensitization and  Reprocessing (EMDR) - Level 1 & 2

2010: DBT Skills Training and Behavioral Analysis for the Therapist

2008: L.C.S.W., (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) New York State (#076370) 

2004: Critical Incident Stress Management Level One Training Certified  

2000: Disaster Mental Health Training Certified (Red Cross)

Once you’ve had a chance to learn a bit more about me, I hope you’ll consider my services. When working with clients, my goal is to help them achieve the following:

• Develop a more integrated and confident sense of self

• Discover deeper meaning and purpose in life

• Build respectful, enduring relationships with others

• Experience emotional and spiritual restoration so they can live to their fullest potential

When you feel ready to take the next step, I invite you to call with any questions. It’s the best way to explore whether I might be a good fit for your particular needs. Whatever the outcome, you’ll likely gain new insights—and perhaps begin your own path toward greater contentment, stronger relationships, and a more authentic life.