After recognizing so many of my mental health clients also struggled with addiction I earned an LCADC, and became a License Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I learned and witnessed first-hand from family, friends and clients the complex nature of addiction. One of my biggest passions is helping people come out of the denial and darkness and into the light of recovery. Food, gambling, sex, shopping, alcohol, work, love, and illicit drugs are a few of the symptoms I am experienced in treating. My holistic approach addresses and treats the underlying causes and conditions of addiction. I strive to remain informed with the latest and most up to date research practices, standards and guidelines. In addition, I am an active member in my local community, state and nation in the fight against addiction. I believe recovery is a gift of emotional, physical, mental and spiritual freedom and I would be honored to walk alongside of you, on your journey to find hope.

Through years of working with clients facing mental health and addiction challenges, I discovered that many also carried unresolved trauma. Trauma is deeply personal and can stem from experiences such as a panic attack, car accident, childhood abuse, divorce, loss, workplace conflict, or growing up with emotionally unavailable parents. These experiences can leave us feeling “stuck” and contribute to ongoing mental health symptoms.

This realization inspired me to deepen my understanding of trauma, which led me to EMDR. The training transformed not only my practice but also my own life. I have completed EMDR Level I and II trainings with instructors mentored by Francine Shapiro, the founder of EMDR, along with the required consultation hours with an EMDRIA-certified professional. Today, I utilize the full EMDR protocol to help clients process trauma and move toward healing.

EMDR is a type of psychotherapy enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences or trauma. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much like the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, I guide clients to activate their natural healing processes.

EMDR therapy is an eight-phase treatment process. Eye movements (or bilateral stimulation) are used during one part of the session. After determining which memory to target first, I ask my client to hold different aspects of the event or thought in mind and to use his/her eyes to track my hand as it moves back and forth across the client’s field of vision. (I also use a light bar during this process rather than my hand or handheld tappers) As this happens, for reasons believed by researchers to be connected with the biological mechanisms involved in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, internal associations arise and clients begin to process the memory and disturbing feelings. In successful EMDR therapy, the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level. Unlike talk therapy, the insights clients gain in EMDR therapy result not so much from clinician interpretation, but from the client’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processes. The net effect is that clients conclude EMDR therapy feeling empowered by the very experiences that once debased them. Their wounds have not just closed, they have transformed. As a natural outcome of the EMDR therapeutic process, the clients’ thoughts, feelings and behavior are all robust indicators of emotional health and resolution—all without speaking in detail or doing homework used in other therapies.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a structured, evidenced based therapy approach designed to help manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and reduce potential self-destructive behaviors. I have utilized this modality for over fifteen years after working with clients in an inpatient and outpatient setting. The four modules of DBT consist of: Distress Tolerance, Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness and Emotional Regulation. I assist my clients by building upon their strengths and unraveling their cognitive distortions, while teaching them the modules via role playing, processing and homework review. Individual sessions in DBT focus on decreasing and dealing with trauma responses, along with helping clients enhance their own self-respect and self-image. My training and level of expertise in DBT has allowed me to assist my clients in gaining emotional freedom so they can manage and express their emotions in relationships and feel understood.

Effectively led groups can provide powerful support, growth and connection for all who participate. I recently moved my office to a larger space in order to support the local community. Many clients have requested a grief group and a women’s group.  

I am beyond grateful to offer clients the healing potential and transformative strength that comes from shared understanding in group therapy sessions. In a supportive and confidential space, you'll share your experiences, learn new coping strategies, and build meaningful connections that foster growth and healing together.

Each session is led by an experienced therapist who creates a respectful and safe environment for everyone to share and learn. You’ll discover that hearing others’ stories and perspectives not only helps you feel less alone but also opens up new ways to approach your own challenges. Group therapy offers a unique blend of empathy and collective wisdom, allowing you to gain insights that you might not uncover in individual sessions.

Our sessions are designed to be both structured and flexible—tailored to meet the needs of all participants while accommodating the pace of your personal healing journey. Whether you’re looking to voice your thoughts, receive feedback, or simply listen, you'll find that every shared experience contributes to building a resilient, compassionate community. Join us and experience the strength that comes from healing together.