"The purpose of human life is to serve, to show compassion and the will to help others.."
~ Albert Schweitzer
During my professional career I have provided a broad range of services and have experience in most issues related to mental health and addictions. I have worked in both outpatient and inpatient treatment settings as a clinician, supervisor, manager and director. I have had my own private practice since 2000 and, while continuing to operate my private practice, I helped to develop and participate in two intensive outpatient programs.
I have particular expertise in helping individuals and families successfully cope with the impact of developmental or other traumas, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, borderline personality disorder, co-occurring disorders, adult substance use disorder, addiction, caregiving and codependency issues.
I utilize a person driven approach to counseling and know that the best outcomes happen when the client feels a positive connection with their counselor.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy in which the therapist and the client work together as a team to identify and solve problems. Therapists use the Cognitive Model to help clients overcome their difficulties by changing their thinking, behavior, and emotional responses. Cognitive therapy has been found to be effective in more than 1000 outcome studies for a myriad of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, developmental trauma, and substance abuse, among others.
"When we know better, we do better.”
~ Maya Angelou
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines standard cognitive-behavioral techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with teachings such as distress tolerance, acceptance and mindful awareness taken from traditional eastern religious or spiritual practices. The client is taught skills that, with practice, become habits of skillful management of life stressors and enhanced interactions with others.
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
`Mahatma Gandhi
Lifeforce Yoga®
- As a Lifeforce Yoga® Practictioner, I bring “yoga off the mat” into the clinical setting. Ancient yogis used the breath, sound, hand gestures, guided visualizations and postures to help manage and balance the mood. LifeForce Yoga® combines the wisdom of ancient yogis with current scientific findings to develop healing practices. These are tools you can immediately use to reduce stress, elevate a depressed mood or manage the intense pain of both emotional or physical pain and injury. LifeforceYoga® was developed by Amy Weintraub who used the healing power of yoga as well as help from professionals to manage her own depression. To learn more about Lifeforce Yoga® please visit www.yogafordepression.com.
Yoga is the practice of being close to yourself, no matter what is happening within or around you.
~Elens Brower
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. There has been so much research on EMDR that it is now recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma and other disturbing experiences by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association and the Department of Defense.
"EMDR is a bizarre and wondrous treatment and anybody who first hears about it, myself included, thinks this is pretty hokey and strange. It's something invented by Francine Shapiro who found that, if you move your eyes from side to side as you think about distressing memories, that the memories lose their power."
~ Bessell Van Der Kolk, leading Trauma Researcher from Harvard University
Mindfulness
- Mindfulness is being aware, in the present moment, without judgement of your thoughts, feelings, body sensations or what is happening in the environment around you. It includes developing a compassionate heart towards yourself and your experiences. When we practice mindfulness we tune into our present moment, not the struggles of the past or our fears of the future.
"Science is now revealing how the flow of thoughts actually sculpts the brain. By combining breakthroughs in neuroscience with insights from thousands of years of practice, you, too, can use your mind to shape your brain for greater happiness, love, and wisdom."
From Buddha's Brain, by Dr. Rick Hanson and Dr. Richard Mendius
To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders
~ Lao Tau
Substance Use Disorder Treatment
- Harm Reduction Strategies
- Person centered approaches that help the individual identify the impact of use on self and others and supports positive change.
- 12 Step Recovery Model
- I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor who has worked extensively in the field. I am well versed in 12 step recovery principles and practices and I actively support and use these strategies in my practice.
- I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor who has worked extensively in the field. I am well versed in 12 step recovery principles and practices and I actively support and use these strategies in my practice.
- Family Support Services
- Education, consultation and coaching, recognizing the impact of substance use disorders on self and the family, working towards personal and family healing.
- Education, consultation and coaching, recognizing the impact of substance use disorders on self and the family, working towards personal and family healing.
- Recovery Or Post Residential Treatment Support
- Support for ongoing recovery which is "person driven", based on your unique experience, holistic, addresses dual diagnosis, trauma recovery, and your own unique individual or relational needs.
- Recovery from addictions has been likened to "peeling away the layers of the onion." The journey typically comes with a lot of tears. But as each layer is exposed, there is a new awareness and opportunity to grow closer to true self. As the layers peel away, one finds life becoming richer and more flavorful.
Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
~Leonard Cohen
Trauma Informed Therapy
- As a Trauma Informed therapist, I have trained in many therapeutic modalities related to trauma recovery including EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Attachment, Complex Trauma and Integrative Trauma Treatment.
- I utilize a 3 stage process which includes: 1) Establishing Safety both externally and internally. 2) Working through the Trauma after safety is established and, when we both agree to move forward, we begin to reprocess the trauma using one, some or all of the strategies described IN MY TOOLBOX while you also begin to: 3) Reclaim Your Life!
"And the day came for the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
~ Anais Nin
As your therapist, I will connect your personal story and unique needs to treatment that supports and enhances your well being and works for you. All services share a common beginning that's all about MEETING YOU WHERE YOU ARE AT.
"What you are is
what you have been.
What you will be is
what you do now."
~ Buddha