About Me

I am trained as a marriage and family therapist, so my perspective on problems (for an individual, couple, or family) involves examining the family, society, and cultural system, rather than just looking at the individual by him or herself. Additionally, I have trained with Peter Levine regarding Somatic Experiencing, where trauma is believed to be dealt with using a combination of being aware of bodily sensations in addition to working through them.

Education, Training and Work Experience

I received a B.S. degree in Family Studies and Psychology at Brigham Young University. I then attended University of Maryland where I received a M.S. degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. As a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) I was trained in psychotherapy and family systems, and am licensed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage (or couples) and family systems.

After the Masters degree I completed two years of supervised clinical experience, conducting individual, family, couple, and group therapy, after which I took a national licensing exam and completed requirements for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. I am also a clinical member of the Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Part of being licensed to practice therapy involves attending numerous trainings and workshops, which I continually participate in.

I have been working with clients for many years now, and have significant therapeutic experience in working with public mental health agencies. I have worked with a range of mental illnesses including schizophrenia, schizo-affective, bi-polar, major depression, PTSD, anxiety, etc. I have also worked with many children and families diagnosed with ADHD or other behavior problems. While working in the public mental health sector, I dealt with just about every type of situation (relational or mental health). In addition, I have worked in "managed care" evaluating treatments for people in all different levels of care (hospitalizations, detoxification, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, community supports, targeted case management, etc.).

Also, I have completed a 3 year training program for dealing with Trauma, called Somatic Experiencing. For specific information about this, please refer to www.traumahealing.com and the Somatic Experiencing tab on this site.

Areas of Expertise

I view situations and problems that come in my door as part of a larger system, utilizing family therapy training. In addition to dealing with many different situations and problems, I have developed expertise in handling trauma and abuse. I continually attend trainings on these topics.

Individuals
Many of us have to cope with stressful situations, which sometimes can be supported by coming in to talk to a therapist. Stress, depression, anxiety, life changes, coping skills, (the list could be endless) can be addressed in therapy.

Couples
The relationship between a couple can have significant impact on multiple levels: the individual's well being, the couple's interactions, work life, family and parenting dynamics, you name it! I definitely enjoy assisting couples better their relationships.

Families
The more people in the room to help create and solve a problem, the more change can occur. Families are the foundation of our society, and I have strong values around family.

Adolescents
I enjoy helping adolescents and have a great deal of experience with them. Because some people are not comfortable working with adolescents, they often refer them to me. Adolescents are an integral part of families and typically have a family to work with in therapy.

Trauma and PTSD
Throughout this site I have talked about my training with Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) and how we tend to store stressful events in our bodies and nervous systems. One aspect of this particular theory that I really like, is the fundamental belief that we are resilient! Our bodies and minds are wired to work together to heal us, sometimes we just need to focus on it to help the process.

Spirituality
In addition, because clients frequently wish to include the spiritual aspect of their lives in therapy, I have gained significant experience on how to incorporate spirituality into addressing one's problems. Of course, whether to include spiritual issues in therapy is entirely up to the client.