“God has designed our minds, part of His good creation, to invite us into a deeper, more secure, more courageous relationship with Him and with one another.” Curt Thompson, MD

Philosophy and Therapeutic Approach

Whether it’s career difficulties, relationship issues, or emotional challenges, therapy can be a supportive, safe space to explore and manage change that is overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. Sometimes, we look to therapy or our counselors to provide a quick fix for our pain or our uncomfortable relationships and situations. That is normal and I want that from therapy sometimes, too. As much as we want quick fixes, the therapeutic process is about slowing down and getting to know yourself and your story more deeply. This work can be challenging, uncomfortable, and even painful, but it’s also good, important, and life-giving. 

I find that the stories we tell ourselves inform our daily lives. This informs my therapeutic approach in helping you learn to mindfully interact with those stories and adjust them as needed. One of my favorite modern-day philosophers, Brené Brown, reminds us that “the only way through it, is through it,” and to get through it – whatever “it” may be for you – we need other people to help us.  So, although it can be slow, tough work, the work we do in therapy is sacred, and you are not alone in it.

What to Expect in Therapy

I believe therapy is about relationship, so we will spend our first few sessions getting to know each other and making sure we are a good fit. Meeting a new therapist and starting to explore your story is courageous, but you may also feel unsure or scared. Safety is essential for a strong working relationship, and I want to facilitate that for us by incorporating active listening, a secure presence, and ensuring you feel seen and heard. 

Therapy can be a practical place to identify and work through your goals. Although I will challenge you to let go of a timeline when it comes to therapy, establishing goals will provide a useful way to measure and track your growth. Over time, you will be able to identify and meet some of your goals while also gaining practical tools to regulate your emotions and cope in healthy, beneficial ways. I hope you will be able to come to therapy just as you are on any given day, and that you feel safe digging into your story and engaging in practical methods to navigate your day-to-day life.

Cultivating a posture of curiosity and life-long learning are, I believe, essential to personal growth and self-awareness. I love sharing resources to help you further explore your interests. I am also comfortable incorporating prayer or Scripture into sessions if that is something you desire.

Personal Qualifications and Experience

Growing up, I loved people and had a knack for active, attentive listening as well as a strong desire to help others. I had a long-time suspicion that I would eventually find myself back in school training to become a counselor, a profession that could help me hone and use my gifts of compassion and empathy. Before I became a professional counselor, I spent 15 years in both the corporate and ministry worlds, so I am familiar with the stress and burnout that can come from working in these professional settings. I learned that our culture of work and the endless striving for “success” can sometimes come at the cost of knowing ourselves and knowing others, leaving us “outwardly successful but inwardly defeated” as one of my favorite authors, Curt Thompson, says. Our busyness can help us avoid our pain, but if we slow down enough (as we will practice in session), we can engage with ourselves in new, healthy, and empowering ways. 

In my mid-30s, I finally went back to school and became a counselor, graduating with my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Denver Seminary in May 2024. As a counselor, I get to combine my love of learning – especially about neurobiology and spirituality – with my love of connecting with others. I can remind you, just as I remind myself, that your path may not look like everyone else’s, and that’s okay.

Personal Interests

As a true elder millennial, I love TV, with reality competition shows like Survivor being my favorite. My husband of two years and I, along with our friends, love talking about the strategy, competition, and nuance of our shows as well as cheering on our favorite players. I also love old favorites like Friends, Gilmore Girls, and The Office, as well as documentaries (the stranger the better). I love to read – wandering the aisles of book stores and scouring Amazon for new finds to add to my long list of books to read is definitely a favorite pastime. Other new hobbies I’ve adopted are also of the elder millennial variety, like birdwatching and embroidery.

NEXT STEPS