Welcome! I am a trauma informed counselor, and I love walking with my clients as they process the effects of suffering, seeking greater joy, peace and relational connection in life.

I believe we are all created for joy-the feeling that someone is glad to be with us; to know that we are the ‘sparkle in someone’s eye.’ But when we lose our joy, or maybe the hurts of life prevented us from feeling joy in the first place, we can get stuck, feeling alone and isolated. We might experience anxiety or depression or even addiction in the absence of healthy, life giving relationships. I believe that trauma can be healed and suffering can lead to wisdom, knowledge, skills, compassion, maturity and resilience.

I use an attachment and emotional focused approach to counseling that creates a space for clients to heal from trauma and grow in maturity and wisdom. I also love to care for the needs of caregivers. I understand the needs of those who work in fields that require them to witness and carry the pain and suffering of others; church and ministry leaders, medical professionals. I am trained in EMDR and other trauma focused therapies, I use a combination of Gottman Method and Emotion Focused Therapy for couples. As a Christian counselor, I also love to use a Christian psychological therapy called Immanuel Prayer and Life Model for clients who would like their faith integrated into their therapy.

Life Model is an idealized life span conceptualization, meaning that it uses what we have learned from developmental studies and Biblical truths about maturity to describe how human beings are meant to be, if they had developed as the ought. This is in contrast to methods that survey the way people are and set goals based on the high end of the average.

I am a Christian, and while I don’t require anyone to adhere to my beliefs, I do believe it’s important to know what lens your counselor is looking at the world through, as you decide whether I am a good fit for you and your goals.
Learn more about Life Model Works here.

To make an appointment, please call, text or email CONTACT INFO

My Services

  • I offer 50 minute sessions for adults and teens using Emotion Focused Individual Therapy; EMDR; Trauma Focused CBT; Life Model and Immanuel prayer;

Trauma
Complex trauma
Childhood abuse recovery
Sexual abuse recovery
Domestic Violence survivors
PTSD

Anxiety/Depression
ADHD
Bipolar Disorder
Caregiver Fatigue
Relational difficulties
Spiritual struggles

My Education, Experience and Training

I have my Bachelors degree in Fine Art (2001) from Judson College in Elgin, IL and a Master’s degree in Counseling (2021) from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Training

EMDR-basic level certification
Gottman Method-Level 1
Immanuel Prayer and Life Model
Somatic Experiencing, beginning level

Experience

I have many years of experience of working with people in a caring capacity. Over the past decade I have worked in residential settings for teen moms and for sex trafficking survivors. I have also worked as a caregiver for elderly people. All of those experiences have taught me how to listen compassionately as well as how to use brain science and an understanding of secure attachment needs to help clients know they don’t have to face their struggles alone anymore, and they can heal and grow. In church, I have served in ministries that focus on prayer and healing,

My life’s journey has also included some unique experiences. I went to art school and later spent a few years working in the realm of sustainable agriculture. I milked cows on a raw milk dairy and have grown vegetables to sell in my CSA (community supported agriculture). I eventually realized that each of these interests were connected by my desire for healing, creativity and a whole being sort of flourishing in life giving community.