About Me and My Philosophy on Counseling
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in beautiful Austin, Texas. I love the originality and diversity that this city offers. Similarly, I enjoy providing counseling to a varied and unique population of people. Our differences provide an opportunity for self acceptance. I have found through my personal life and professional experiences that counseling is often about balancing self acceptance and change. In addition, I see therapy as helping people better connect to their own values, their life's meaning. For me, I deeply value relationships. I believe that relationships provide so much healing and opportunity for growth in life, but this is also true in therapy. For me these two concepts have led me down what seems like an inevitable path to be a therapist.
Education & Experience
I earned my Bachelors degree in Psychology and my Masters of Education in Counseling from the University of North Texas. During my education, I did research in health outcomes of women across different socioeconomic groups, volunteered at AIDS Services of North Texas, the Walt Whitman School (for GLBT youth), and Friends of the Family (a domestic violence shelter). In addition to learning different therapeutic approaches during my graduate studies, I received specialized training in biofeedback and relaxation skills training. I worked in public mental health for nine years providing case management and counseling services to individuals with serious mental illness. I have also provided counseling in pain management, employee assistance/crisis debriefing, college counseling (Mindful Eating Program at University of Texas in Austin) and eating disorder treatment settings. I have specialized training in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), treatment of anxiety disorders, mood disorders and eating disorder.
Treatment Approach
My brand of therapy is an eclectic approach that is informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Humanistic therapeutic approaches such as Person-Centered, Gestalt and Existential Therapies. My approach involves offering validation and acceptance to my clients, providing a genuinely positive, warm environment. I also help facilitate building insight into thoughts, feelings and behaviors which is essential to both self acceptance and change. With this insight, we will work on identifying problematic thoughts and behaviors and move towards changing them. Also, I can provide skills training to learn how to be more effective in your life and relationships as well as how to manage intense feelings and tolerate stress. Together, we will work to find your life's meaning and values and connect to them.