First and foremost, I feel that it is important for you to know a little more about me to make sure that I am the right fit for you. Choosing the right counselor for you is the most important piece of the counseling process, because the counselor you choose will be your guide and partner through this journey. The relationship you build with your counselor is of utmost importance. The best work is done through a nurturing and respectful therapeutic relationship.
I am currently a Registered Mental Health Counseling Intern with the state of Florida. What this means is that I have graduated from my master’s program, during which time I spent a year as a graduate-level intern seeing clients, and am now practicing on my own as a pre-licensed professional under supervision. I receive both individual and group supervision on a regular basis. This supervision ensures that the counsel I provide is ethical, evidence-based, and appropriate for the presenting concerns of the client. It also allows me to build myself as a clinician from both a personal and professional standpoint. My supervisors are bound by the same professional standards and privacy laws that I am and hold the supervision space as sacred and private.
My theoretical orientation is grounded in Carl Rogers’ Person-Centered theory but is integrated and pulls from a variety of different theories depending on the needs of the situation and client in front of me. I value the client above all else and will work to the best of my ability to help you in any way I can using a variety of different techniques and approaches. I tend to use interventions from theories such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive-Behavioral Theory, and Dialectical Behavior Theory (DBT). Over the last year, I have gained experience in working with grief processing, neurodivergence, and differing levels and severities of trauma. I also have experience working with and being an ally for the LGBTQ+ community. As a mental health counselor, I operate from a wellness model framework. I take a holistic approach to the help I provide my clients and seek to understand the person as a whole and not just the reason they chose to come to counseling. I firmly believe every person is capable of reaching their fullest potential, and I will dedicate the time we have together to helping you reach that goal. The therapeutic relationship is a give-and-take dynamic in which both parties must put forth effort in order to see change. As the client, you must be willing to put in the effort needed both during sessions and outside of them to see the changes you wish to see. I promise to put forth the same level of effort as you throughout our time together.
About Me
I am a neurodivergent person who enjoys singing and communing with nature. My love and passion has always been in the field of psychology; my professional journey began as a dual major in criminology and psychology at Florida State University, but, as with all life paths, mine took turns I was unexpecting and led me to earning my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Saint Leo University. From there, I spent five years as a teacher educating underprivileged youth in a low socioeconimic community. The majority of my time in education was spent teaching English Language Arts to middle schoolers during which time I gained lots of lived experience working with varying personality types and learning styles. I eventually went back and earned my Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Jacksonville Univeristy which has led me here, to being a counselor.
I am a fulltime mom of a neurodivergent teenage boy. We spend many hours playing games of different varieties including video, board, and card games as well as going on adventures. We both have a strong love of the water and spend many hours swimming and fishing on our lake. We also spend as much time as we can at the ocean. Traveling and exploring new places and cultures is a regular occurance for us as I believe instilling a diverse world view and acceptance of all people is one of the most important things we can give to our children. Family is of utmost importance to me and I firmly believe in the power of community when it comes to the raising of children.
In my spare time, I enjoy singing in my church choir, in my car, and in the shower. Music is an integral part of my being and in how I process the world around me. I enjoy writing poetry and reading mystery novels. I am a big time tv buff and enjoy vegging out to a procedural cop show like NCIS as much as I enjoy binging Avatar: The Last Air Bender. I also enjoy herbal teas, candles, and all things fall related.