COUNSELING APPROACH

My counseling approach is built upon the belief that we were made for relationship. It is in and through relationships that we come to better understand who we are. And we come to understand who we are by the telling of our story.

"What is my story?” You might ask.
Well, your story is made up of many smaller stories that have shaped who you are. And the characters in your story have helped create themes for how you see and relate to yourself, others and God. The key players in your story are usually your parents, caregivers, siblings, other family members, friends, and maybe even individuals like teachers, coaches, and/or pastors.

​As you share your story in counseling, you and I build a relationship in which I pay attention, observe, and inquire. This process helps to begin naming how you feel, what you are experiencing as you share your story, as well as what it is like for me to respond. This awareness creates opportunities to discuss what’s working and what’s not working in your life. It also highlights areas you feel stuck, hopeless, or even downright terrified. As we move together through your story, I desire to invite you to grieve places of pain and loss, identify and push back against lies you believe, as well as ​celebrate your steps towards freedom and change.

My approach is also heavily influenced by therapist and author, Dr. Dan Allender. An explanation of the Allender Theory can be found HERE.

AREAS OF SPECIALTY

Grief & Loss
Trauma/PTSD
Sexual Abuse

Emotional Abuse
Spiritual Abuse
Narcissistic Abuse

Maternal Narcissism
Covert/Emotional Incest
Spiritual Issues

Anxiety/Depression
Family of Origin
​Codependency

I am trained in EMDR, an evidence-based therapy that is helpful in treating anxiety disorders, depression, complicated grief, trauma, and PTSD. To learn more about EMDR and how it works, go HERE and scroll down to see video.
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EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri

Advanced Counseling Certificate in Trauma-Focused Narrative Therapy
Allender Center at the Seattle School for Psychology and Theology

Master of Arts in Counseling
Saint Louis University

The WIEBGE acronym stands for Will I Ever Be Good Enough? and signifies level I certification in Dr. Karyl McBride’s five-step recovery model for treating adult children of narcissistic parents.