Maybe you are looking at this site because you have identified that something in your life is preventing you from living the fulfilled and healthy life you want.  Losses, transitions, and changes in our lives can be extremely challenging.  If you have decided to take the courageous step to talk with someone, you likely want to make sure that the person will be a good fit for you.  

 

 While education, experience, and credentials, are important, therapy is about YOU!  So that you can begin to determine if we will be a good fit, I want to try to give you a feel for how I strive to show up when we work together.  After that, you can read more about my education and experience. 

 

I strive to keep it real in sessions.  I don’t want you to come in with a filter, so I won’t be offended if, for example, you use curse words because I know that sometimes those are the only words that will work for what we are going through!  When we don’t have to worry about filters we can be honest with ourselves about how we feel. 

 

I strive to help individuals become more self aware and give up old habits or beliefs that no longer serve them.  I enjoy helping individuals identify and reflect on their values, which can serve as guides through life’s challenges. 

 

YOU are the expert in what you need!  Therapy is a tool that can help you uncover the wisdom you possess and allow you to experience self-compassion.  I often tell people that one of the things I do as a therapist is help you dust off your toolbox and possibly even teach you some new tools to help you live the life you want and deserve.  

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While what brings you to therapy is likely painful, I do not believe that life is all pain and suffering.  I believe that healing can come from allowing ourselves to experience the full range of our emotions in any given situation; which might mean laughter and tears, and it is likely there will be both in sessions with me! 

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So if you are still reading, now is when you probably want to see a bit more about my education and experience.

 

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Tennessee and North Carolina.

I earned my Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2009.  In 2002 I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from High Point University.

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I am a Certified Grief Recovery SpecialistⓇ through the Grief Recovery Institute.  More importantly, I have experienced and worked through several personal losses.

 

There is no "one size fits all" model for therapy.  I utilize several evidence-based theoretical and therapeutic approaches, depending on the issues we are working on.  Here are some of the more common approaches I use:

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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Solution-Focused Therapy

Grief Recovery Method

 

I am also a Veterinary Social Worker, which means that I attend to the human needs in the relationships we have with animals.  I worked for 10 years at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center as one of the clinical social workers. Some of the services I provided include grief support and crisis intervention to clients of the Small and Large Animal Hospitals and members of the community, help with treatment or end-of-life decision-making,  counseling to veterinary students, House Officers and staff, consultation with in-house and community veterinarians on difficult cases, and I oversaw the communication training for UTCVM’s veterinary medical students. I am excited to bring this support to my private practice!

 

If you think that I would be a good fit or want to ask more questions, please give me a call today to schedule your free 20-minute no obligation phone consultation.