About Me I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and have worked with adults, couples, children, adolescents and families for over twenty years. I attended the University of Wisconsin Madison where I received my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 1992. I completed my Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology in 1997 at Roosevelt University in Schaumburg, Illinois. I have worked in numerous settings including a residential treatment center, a crisis intervention agency, community mental health centers, an outpatient counseling center and now in private practice. I provided in home counseling services to at risk children and adolescents and well as to families in early childhood mental health programs. I have co facilitated groups for children of divorce and for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one through death. I have a special interest in working with grief and loss. In addition I worked for a brief time in a special needs classroom with children on the autism spectrum. Finally, I am also a parent of college aged twins and understand the struggles that we all go through as parents every day as well as that transition to the empty nest.
My approach to therapy is eclectic. No two people are alike; nor should their therapy be. I want to meet you where you are at and then talk about moving to where you want to be. I often work from a cognitive behavioral perspective helping you change the way you think about things or respond to things to help reduce anxiety, depression, frustration and other negative feelings. I am also solution focused and help you to set goals for the changes you envision in your life. I strongly believe in family systems theory and work closely with parents and other family members in sessions with children and teens. In therapy sessions I frequently like to incorporate mindfulness exercises that allow one to quiet and calm the mind and learn to relax and focus on the present moment and an inner quietness. This can be very helpful to adults and teens who suffer from anxiety, depression, strong emotions and self injury. I am a also Christian counselor and will incorporate faith and spirituality if this support is helpful in treatment.
In my free time, I love to be outdoors. I find being in nature or just simply pausing to take in the world around, brings me calm and centers me. I also enjoy connecting with friends and travelling with my family. You can also find me curled up with a good book in my free time. I firmly believe in seeking those things that bring you joy and contentment and slowing down to do so.
