About Me

My Approach

Life can be challenging at times. Whether it’s from patterns of thinking or behaving we’ve carried with us from our childhood experiences, or dynamics in relationships we’ve forged, or hurdles we’ve come across in our day-to-day journey, or trauma that has crashed in on us, sometimes we can feel stuck and frustrated. We may even lose a sense of our own identity along the way, and that “lost” feeling brings experiences of anxiety, stress, sadness, fear, physical struggles, or more. It can be helpful to find a safe space to explore our thoughts and feelings, and counseling can offer an objective perspective, thought-provoking questions, and help in discovering the way forward.

I see counseling as a collaborative process in which I can support you and empower you to explore your perspectives, beliefs, and behaviors in a safe, welcoming, non-judgmental context. Along the way, I will challenge unhealthy patterns that arise and help you grow in self-awareness so you can embrace new possibilities. I’ll also integrate support through mindfulness, contemplation, communication skills, and self-care so that you might experience lasting change.

My Background

I have been counseling individuals and couples for over 30 years in a full-time pastoral role with churches in California, Illinois, Nebraska, Arizona, and Virginia. In recent years, I have expanded my clinical therapeutic development so that I might offer more specialized assistance with various issues. I hold several degrees: a D.Min & M.Div in Pastoral Counseling from Trinity International University in Chicago, and most recently an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University, where I was honored as the outstanding student of the year upon completion of my program. I was also invited back to Marymount as Adjunct Faculty, where I have taught in the counseling department.

I am certified as a provider of the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis (TJTA) and the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and counseling process, and have received training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) trauma-informed therapy.

I completed my Practicum and Internship in counseling at a local private practice in Manassas, Virginia, and am now a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC#1440595), licensed in Virginia as a Resident in Counseling (#0704013510), and credentialed in Washington D.C. as a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (#LGPC00882). This means I am in the process of gaining additional experience toward licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC), and I am working under the supervision of Esker Jay Farris, M.S., LPC, LCPC and Monica Band, Ed.D, M.A., LPC, CRC, ACS, CCC, CCCE, the 2019 Virginia Counselor of the Year and past president of the Virginia Counseling Association. Their role is to ensure that I am offering the best mental health care possible and assist with my professional development and growth as a therapist.