Meet Our Counselors

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I consider it an honor to assist you through your process of becoming conscious of and utilizing your strengths, integrating the aspects of yourself, and discovering and revering your true Self. My goal is to provide support, encouragement, compassion, and unconditional positive regard to adults, children, adolescents, and families while guiding them to find their inner resources and true Selves so that they may heal, grow, and learn to thrive in life.  Specialties include:  trauma resolution, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, self-care, mindfulness/spirituality, substance abuse, stress, family problems, parenting issues, child/adolescent behavioral problems, foster care/attachment issues, grief/loss, self-harm/cutting behavior, and relationship issues. 

I specialize in evaluation and treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, stress related disorders, substance use, bipolar, OCD, relationship issues, social issues, marriage and family therapy, parenting, grief/loss, child/adolescent behavioral disorders, as well as other common developmental concerns across the lifespan.

With a Christian background, I particularly enjoy assessing and working with individuals who share my faith, as well as those who question it, who struggle and grapple with the unanswered questions that faith often brings up.  We live in a deeply broken world and I understand how anger, resentment, and other difficult feelings can get in the way of true healing. 

My goal is to walk beside you as you work through life’s challenges.  If something is holding you back from achieving the happiness you seek, let’s talk about it. 

I specialize in professional and compassionate support for women  along life’s journey. As daughters, wives, girlfriends, mothers, students, professionals, grandmothers, and just as people—we face a multitude of stressors unique to us.  I use a holistic, and integrative approach that emphasizes the mind-body connection and how it relates to overall functioning.  I can walk beside you as you navigate the peaks and valleys of each stage of life.

I am a Resident in counseling licensure (L.P.C.) with a Dual Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Mental Health Counseling.  My Bachelor’s Degree is in Theology with minor in Psychology and Justice and Peace.  

I specialize in life stressors that concern women of all ages such as:

Depression, Anxiety, Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders, Trauma, Self- Esteem, Career and Job transition, Relationship Issues, Parenting Issues, Grief and Loss, Pregnancy and Postpartum Issues,, Intimacy Issues, and Infertility

I empower individuals and families to overcome personal obstacles by assisting in identifying inner strengths and exploring ways to make changes in their lives that will provide hope for a brighter future. One of my passions is uplifting minority communities; I have a deep appreciation for the collaborative process that counseling can provide, with the aim of achieving goals individuals have set for themselves.
Specialties include: anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder (ADHD), parenting issues, child/adolescent behavior issues, interpersonal social skills, mindfulness/spirituality and relationship issues. She is particularly interested in empowering the minority community and increasing their utilization of mental health services.
Clinical knowledge includes: Crisis Counseling, Play Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Individual and Family Counseling, Motivational Interviewing and working with families involved with the Department of Social Services.

I believe in the inner strength of my clients and to empower them to meet their goals. I emphasize on the mind-body connection and with practice clients can change their beliefs, attitudes, emotions and behaviors. I work with my clients to believe in their strength and that they have the control to meet their goal and reach the future that they desire. I have worked with both children and adults in a multitude of settings in the home, school and community. I specialize assisting clients with issues with anxiety, focus skills, self-esteem, grief and loss, social issues and stress from the ages of 10 to adult. My clinical approach is holistic based on the need of my client and I believe in being strength based and solution- focused. I utilize a multitude of techniques to assist my clients including: play therapy techniques, DBT techniques, mindfulness, CBT and Motivational Interviewing.  I am a Resident in Counseling with a Master’s Degree in School Counseling K-12 from Marywood University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from SUNY Cortland.  My licensure, LPC, is anticipated before fall 2018.  I am currently under supervision with Tina Genaro and Susan Owen.  

People often feel alone and overwhelmed with life stresses and struggles. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive place to talk about concerns and assist in resolving difficulties.  I have 20 years of experience and have practiced in New York State, Tennessee, and Virginia. I have experience working with both children and adults in a variety of settings, with 10 years of experience working with military veterans.  Specialties include: trauma, PTSD, sexual assault, abuse including childhood abuse and domestic violence, depression, anxiety, self-care, and relationship issues.  My therapeutic approach is grounded in the psychodynamic perspective but is also holistic and integrative, meaning that elements of different theories are integrated into my practice. What works for one client may not work for another. I use the therapy tools that are best suited for each individual client and problem.  Warmth, compassion, and humor are also a part of who I am and I bring this to my work as well. 

No matter what brings you to therapy, I adhere to Carl Jung's premise that every client is unique and needs individualized treatment in therapy. The first few sessions of therapy involve thorough assessments of past and present issues including information about your family of origin as well as your current struggles. The key to the assessment stage of therapy is examining how your core beliefs about life and the subsequent painful emotional states are rooted in childhood or early life circumstances and repeat over time. The treatment phase of psychotherapy involves helping you develop insight into your unmet needs, distorted beliefs, unhealthy patterns of behavior, defenses, feelings and longings then make incremental changes in your life. This is the process of becoming aware or conscious. Often in sessions, I will help you access more of what is hidden from your conscious awareness but lies dormant in your unconscious. The unconscious is the place where some of the more difficult inner conflicts reside. It is also the place that holds the greatest potential for lasting change. The unconscious can be accessed through dreams, meditation and the body. Once you begin to understand more of your unconscious behavior and feelings, your authentic Self can emerge with all of its healing power. Once you access your deepest Self, you can begin to live happily and effectively in the world--despite outer circumstances.  

I am passionate about educating, uplifting and motivating children and adults to reach desired levels of success and self- actualization using counseling and coaching as the vehicle of change. I strive to equip individuals with knowledge, tools and resources that will assist them in making healthy and proactive choices to enhance their well-being. I approach therapy using a strengths based approach, person centered, task-centered and cognitive behavioral framework. I have extensive experience working with the school, home and community setting. My areas of specialty are; family conflict, adolescent development and wellness addressing issues to include; behavioral issues, career counseling, coping skills, life coaching, peer relationships, self -esteem, women issues and anxiety. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services Counseling with a Minor in Sociology from Old Dominion University and Master of Social Work degree from Norfolk State University. My career has included crisis services, group and individual counseling, therapeutic day treatment at K-12 grade levels, substance abuse, mental health and 7 years in social work higher education.