If you are like me, you want to scope out your potential therapist to make sure they might be a good fit before you potentially waste your precious time, money, and energy. I do the same thing so I don't blame you one bit.

Interested in my education?

I graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and later graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne University with a Master of Arts in Community Counseling with School Counseling Licensure. My additional graduate hours gave me the ability to be licensed as both a clinical/community counselor as well as become a licensed K-12 school counselor.

What about my credentials?

I obtained my, then called, LPCA (Licensed Professional Counselor Associate) license in December 2011. I completed more than 3,000 hours of supervised professional counseling practice and obtained my, now called, LCHMC (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor) license. My North Carolina LCMHC license number is 9183. I also became a licensed North Carolina K-12 School Counselor in 2014.

What do I have experience doing?

I have experience performing outpatient psychotherapy for clients ranging from ages eight to clients in their mid-sixties. I was previously a school-based mental health therapist for a NC middle school. I was a high school counselor for almost seven years. I've worked with children, adolescents, and adults with a wide variety of diagnoses, ranging from maintenance-mode to severe.* I've worked with individuals, parents, and families to help clients meet their needs and goals.

*If I feel as if your mental health needs exceed the benefits regular outpatient therapy can offer, I will work with you on referring you to a service that can best help you.

What do I "specialize in"?

I currently only see clients ages 16 and older. I am comfortable seeing clients with a wide variety of issues or symptoms.* However, I have an extensive history working with clients and/or a desire to help clients who face: difficulty dealing with daily stress, anxiety, and/or depression, non-suicidal self-injury, history of loss/grief of many facets, perinatal or postpartum mental health difficulties, codependency, and clients with family members dealing with substance abuse.

*If I believe that your symptoms are outside of my scope of practice, or that I may not be the best counselor for you, I will work with you to help you find a counselor who may meet your needs.

What's it like to be in counseling with me?

Well, that varies, of course! Every client has specific goals and needs and sessions are adapted to help them grow in various ways. Sessions are typically 50-60 minutes and clients can be seen as little or as often as agreed is appropriate to help them meet their needs. Most clients are seen weekly or bi-weekly to begin, and then progress to monthly sessions before they are successfully discharged. I don't think you need to be in the middle of a crisis to be in therapy, but just wanting change and willing to work at it. Counseling can help with mental health maintenance as well as more time- and goal-specific issues at hand. I use CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) skills, and solution-focused approaches. Basically, I help, you, the client, figure out: how to help yourself, why you think/behave/feel the way you do, and realistic solutions to decrease problematic symptoms you are facing.

I try to be personable, relatable, yet continue to be client-focused in sessions. I keep a judgement-free zone in sessions. I love a good pop-culture reference and want to connect with my clients in a way that they feel open to discussing whatever it is they are feeling. I value being someone's "safe space." I also want clients to look forward to therapy, and dare I say enjoy it?!

What about spirituality in sessions?

Counselors are trained to be unbiased, client-centered, and not to impose their beliefs on their clients - on any matter. However, I am a firm believer that your spirit/spirituality is a strong part of your whole person. Full disclosure: I am a counselor who is a Christian, not a certified "Christian counselor." However, if it is your wish, it would be my pleasure to include faith-based conversations in your sessions as appropriate. (This is something discussed at intake where you make your preferences known.) This is completely optional and opting out of speaking of spirituality and/or speaking of other faiths other than Christianity will have zero impact on the professionalism and care you receive from me. Again, counselors are trained to be unbiased, client-centered, and not to impose their beliefs onto their clients.