Philosophy and Therapeutic Approach

I have a warm, inviting approach that incorporates lightness and humor. One of my main focuses is that people feel comfortable with me and safe in order to make the progress desired or find the healing needed. My desire is to assist others in finding the hope that may seem lost when trials come and cloud over the rays of hope that once were there.

I went into counseling because I have gone through several different challenging times throughout my life and knew what it meant to have someone encouraging me and providing a support when I felt discouraged or defeated. I believe that God is our refuge and our strength, but I also know that he brings people into our lives to be his hands in lifting others up when they are down.

I believe that there can be a balanced approach of combining Biblical principles with psychological awareness into discovering more about ourselves and the roots that exist with our hurts and hang-ups. Since we live in a fallen world, there will never be complete healing from all that the world throws at us, but I believe that having Christ in the center of our lives and learning to look to each other for support, we are able to overcome any trials that come our way and grow throughout the process.

As it says in Romans 5:3-5, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

Expectations of Therapy

I believe the biggest step in counseling is taking the first step to ask for help and support. Life can be challenging in many different ways and sometimes it is nice to have someone come along beside you and walk through the journey with you. Since every person was created in a unique way, I do not believe in a “cookie-cutter” or “one-size-fits-all” approach. We work together to get to know who God created you to be and discover together His plans for you.

People will often ask how long the process of counseling can take and my response is, it is up to you. I will often tell you that you are the driver in the car and I am simply the passenger in our time together. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide where we go and how fast you want to take us there; my job is to provide support and suggestions along the way to help guide you in your journey. I am proactive in my approach and will definitely be providing challenges to work on in many different forms to allow you to feel like no matter what, you are working toward your goals.

I also feel that throughout my experience as a counselor, I love to work toward focusing on any victory regardless of how small it may feel at the time, there is always a celebration to be had. It also allows for you to begin to feel relief or success along the way.

Professional Experience

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies and a license in Secondary Education from the Metropolitan University of Denver. Prior to pursuing a career in counseling, I was a middle school teacher at Faith Christian Academy for eight years. My time teaching opened up my eyes to the hurt and struggles that exist for these students and their families and I felt God’s pull on my heart to pursue going to school for counseling.

I have a Masters of Arts in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. During my master’s program, I worked as an intern for the Denver Rescue Mission in their STAR program assisting families and children, the New Life program assisting men recovering from substance abuse, and at Champa House assisting young mothers and their children. Following my time with the Rescue Mission, I worked for several years for the Griffith Centers for Children located in Denver. This agency focused on providing in-home therapy services all around the metro-Denver area. During my time there I became trained in EMDR, AF-CBT, and CPP to better assist families and individuals that have come through trauma within their homes.

After working for the Griffith Centers for Children, a door was opened at a private practice in Loveland where I provided counseling support for families, couples, individuals, and teens/children. I believe that through my work in the various settings of a school, the community, private practice, and home-based therapy have equipped me to provide support for a vast range of family, individual, couple, teen/child emotional, spiritual, and psychological issues.

Personal Interests

My husband and I took a leap of faith after living in Colorado our whole lives and moved to Ponte Vedra Florida to open a brand new office. This is Cornerstone’s first office outside of Colorado, and we’ve been loving every minute of extending Cornerstone’s reach to this beautiful place.  Although I am a Colorado native and am a proud Bronco fanatic, I am learning how to get on the bandwagon of college football and figuring out how the rivalries work. Most of my husband’s family is from Knoxville, so I am mostly committed to the Vols!  I met my husband during my senior year of high school, and we started dating my freshman year of college. We got married after I finished my bachelor’s degree, and he graduated from the police academy in 2007. My husband and I have two amazing little boys whom add so much love and joy in my life.  As a family, we are deeply involved with our church, Crosswater Community, and love living our lives to the fullest in Nocatee running around town on our golf cart!

Some of my personal interests include being active with my kids through playing sport like soccer, basketball, and figuring out all the ins and outs of pickle ball!  I also love to run. I am embracing the humidity in Florida that we did not have in Colorado but loving the sea level impact when running and not the “mile high” struggle anymore.Did I mention that I am a Bronco fanatic?! I love going to games every season when we go back to Colorado for visits. A highlight moment was when we were blessed (and a bit shocked) to be able to go to the Super Bowl to watch the Broncos win in person in Super Bowl 50! That’s a memory I will never forget.

Check out these blogs written by Jess

• Parenting in the Next Normal 
• Dads With Postpartum? You Betcha: A Look At Postpartum Depression in Fathers 
• A Different Kind of Mother’s Day: A Look at Perinatal Mood Disorders