My Background:
I came to the field of counseling from my own personal journey of anxiety and feeling stuck. In various stages of my life I worked through questioning my life choices, changing career direction several times and found comfort and grounding in my own counselor’s office. Through discovering more of my personal identity and developing awareness and management of anxiety, I was able to forge a different path for myself.
Approach:
My aim as a counselor is to create that same safe space for my clients. I see myself as a guide, gently suggesting routes that we can take together and marking progress as we walk down your life trail.
Often I begin counseling by asking about what is working and not working in your life. From there I may assign an observation task of noticing when you experience these difficulties and what is going on around you. With this information in front of us, I can help you identify what may be “triggering” or contributing to your difficulties and see what is working and not working. We’ll bring awareness to your body sensations and cultivate tools that you can use to self-soothe and both prepare and help you before the trigger, during and after.
As a result my clients feel more prepared to face life stressors, feel more self-confident and clearer in their decision making.
Education and Experience:
You can also trust that my work is guided by formal training. I hold a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacific University and am a licensed counselor in both Oregon and Washington as well as a Nationally Certified Counselor. Before entering into private practice I worked in a variety of outpatient settings providing counseling to adults, adolescents and seniors. I have taught adjunct courses at the Community College and graduate school level and also provide clinical supervision to graduate students and therapists seeking licensure.
Attention to Details:
When I’m not in the therapy office I am a lover of the outdoors and am often out backpacking and hiking. I appreciate all things small from birds and rocks to planting seeds and watching them sprout into thriving plants. The commonality of these passions is in the details. I find that my clients are often drawn to my introspective nature and knack of being able to discover facets that may otherwise go unseen
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