Education

MS Mental Health Counseling, Lee University

BS Psychology, Lee University

 

Training

TF-CBT (Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
ARC (Attachment, Regulation, and Competency)
Play Therapy  *Working toward Registered Play Therapy Credential

 

Therapeutic Approach

Play is the natural language of children, and toys are their “words” in the therapy room, which allows them to process and communicate in a safe, non-threatening way. I utilize a collaborative, play-based approach to helping children heal, where I pull from attachment and family systems theories in my work. I enjoy working with caregivers alongside their child in treatment to provide support, help navigate and understand the underlying needs of the child’s behavior, and to find ways to help build or restore connection between the child and their caregivers. I also love to incorporate other expressive forms of therapy such as sand tray and art as ways to help children and teens process and express emotions in a creative way.

 

Treatment Issues

Trauma, grief, adjustment issues, ADHD, behavioral concerns, depression, anxiety, parenting, self-esteem

 

Treatment Population

I work with children, adolescents, and their caregivers.

 

My Journey

I have always been drawn to helping others and listening to their stories. I also know firsthand the transformative power of having support through life’s ups and downs, which has shaped my approach to counseling. My creative side resonates with the playfulness and curiosity that children bring, and I love to find ways to think outside the box in sessions. As a parent myself, I also deeply understand the challenges of parenting, having been both a working and stay-at-home mom, which enriches my empathetic approach.

 

Favorite Quote

"If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person."  - Fred Rogers

 

Recommended Reading

Whole Brain Child, by Dan Siegel, MD and Tina Payne Bryson, PhD

​

No Bad Kids, by Janet Lansbury