Philosophy and Therapeutic Approach
Welcome! I’m honored you’re here. I understand that you may be navigating pain or loss, and my greatest desire is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you feel truly heard and supported. This is your space—a place where you can openly explore anything and everything on your mind.
My approach is integrative, grounded in our authentic therapeutic relationship. Together, we’ll identify challenges and disruptions keeping you from living your fullest life (John 10:10). With years of experience in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings, I blend evidence-based modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Brainspotting, and elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I also value reflective, soul-level moments—those “beard-stroking” pauses where we dive deeper to uncover meaningful insights. My goal is to guide you toward the transformation you seek with compassion and expertise.
What to Expect in Therapy
In a world that moves at a relentless pace, where we’re pressured to juggle everything at once, therapy offers a rare opportunity to pause, breathe, and find relief. My sessions cultivate a warm, positive environment filled with kindness, where you can slow down and feel at ease. I take a conversational approach, engaging in a natural back-and-forth as we explore your story. I deeply believe in the power of narrative and feel privileged to hear yours.
You’ll never navigate this journey alone. Expect open-ended questions without right or wrong answers, moments of reflective silence as I listen to truly understand you, and a supportive presence as we work together. I’ll encourage you, advocate for you, and, when needed, gently challenge you. Change is hard, but we’ll face it together—often with a touch of humor, because laughter can be healing too! My commitment is to provide a safe, empowering space where we figure it out, side by side.
Personal Qualifications and Experience
I spent the majority of my young adult life engaged in a myriad of roles in youth and music ministry for youth camps and churches. It was the relationships, experiences, and opportunities though those years that honed my heart toward settling in as a Christian counselor. I graduated from Denver Seminary in 2011 with a Master’s of Arts in Community Counseling, and I spent 12 years working with children, adolescents, and young adults at the Pediatric Mental Health Institute through Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado.
Working with young people has kept me young and feeds my ability to support the younger generation through the complexities and challenges of today’s experience. I aim to provide space for developing a non-judgmental, gracious, and safe opportunity to be authentic.
Personal Interests
Getting out and enjoying God’s creation is essential for my spirit, yet only second to time spent with my family. I’ve been blessed to experience and continue to enjoy many outdoor activities from skiing and hiking the mountains to surfing and scuba diving the oceans. My favorite travels are to the Caribbean and my goal is to return as often as possible.
Bike rides with my daughters are often the highlight of my week. I still have an affinity for movies, sports (Iowa Hawkeye football), and video games in my old age, but most often can be found reading, researching, or listening to podcasts (philosophy, psychology, archeology/history, theology, technology). I always have music playing and occasionally tinker on the guitar, as well.
