There are many times in life when counseling can be helpful. If you often question or doubt yourself or your decisions, it might be time to speak with a counselor. Changes in life, even good changes can be stressful. You could also feel like others don’t understand or “get” you or you might struggle with communication in relationships with significant others (partner, family, work). Trauma can be another reason people seek counseling. Unresolved childhood trauma can influence a person’s adult relationships, capability to manage stress, parenting skills, and so much more. But what is trauma? You may not realize trauma can be ANY event that you are not able to resolve in a healthy way. This can range from a one-time event to complex trauma experienced over time.

Most people turn to friends or family for advice in times of need. You may find it is not as helpful because friends or family typically provide their advice or suggestions instead of allowing you to make your own decisions. Counseling is different because it helps you learn how to develop confidence in your decision-making skills and learning how to trust yourself. You can learn lifelong skills and gain resilience to improve your own self-help abilities in the counseling process. Sometimes saying things out loud to a clinically trained objective person can make a huge difference, in addition to learning healthy coping strategies. That sounds too simple, doesn’t it? There is more to it than that, but surprisingly talking about your concerns is a great place to start. It will probably feel like a relief to you to share your thoughts.

You may wonder what to expect in a counseling session. I use a client-centered, strengths-based approach as a counselor. Sessions may include talk therapy, expressive art activity, role-playing, or skill development. You may talk, cry, laugh, or experience other emotions in session. All feelings are valid and honored. Each client is different and developing an individualized approach that is most effective is my main priority. I am trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), which can be extremely effective on its own or with talk therapy.

My specializations include clients who experience stress, anxiety, challenging relationships, and trauma. I work with many professionals in the mental health field, first responders, helping parents learn parenting skills using Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT), couples, and individuals (over 16). My professional experience includes Kindergarten teacher, school counselor, clinical mental health counselor, and university professor. I have over 23 years experience in the mental health field and have published, trained, and presented internationally. Additionally, I served as KY Licensed Professional Counseling Board Chair, Complaints Committee Member, and Board Member (2015-2019).