I started my career as a teacher, completing my B.A. in Education in 1988. I loved teaching in various settings, yet felt that I was especially interested in working with small groups. I realized that every student had something wonderful to offer.
This belief transfers to my work with my clients in therapy. I see it as a privilege to be part of my clients' explorations and healing journeys, knowing that every person has a unique interesting perspective in life and deserves to live to the fullest. In my work with clients my teaching background flows into the way I conceptualize challenges and learning processes. I analyze the work a client wants to do and find ways to break down those issues so they become manageable. I work with my clients in a collaborative way.
I completed my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at Virginia Tech in 2005.
From 2005 until present, I worked in private practice, focusing on holistic care for clients. I completed my Certificate as a Nutrition and Wellness Consultant through AFPA in 2006, realizing how important healthy eating and healthy excercise is to well-being. I also received additional training in resolving trauma (sexual, emotional, physical) and in body-mind approaches to healing (EMDR and IFS) to assist my clients with underlying barriers to change. A special interest to me is our brain and how recent discoveries in neuroscience help psychotherapists be more effective in their client care.
While I am invested in staying current with new nutritional information (my last favorite day-workshop was on gut-health and it's affect on the brain), please know I am not a dietitian. If you are coping with any disease, please seek the help of your medical doctor and the assistance of a registered dietitian.