How I help.....

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Art Therapist (ATR). Firstly, building a meaningful therapeutic relationship is at the heart of my approach. I wholeheartedly believe the therapy process can be a powerful tool for promoting change. My intention is for each person to feel heard and understood in a caring, supportive, confidential and non-judgmental space. I listen to each unique story, introduce direction and provide support around the purpose & function of emotions to help facilitate self-awareness and create emotional intelligence. Working from an open-hearted, affirming, and welcoming approach, collaborating to create real change in your life. My work is person-centered, strengths-based, & unique to each client. I will be dedicated to empowering you to find a sense of balance. We will work together to set and achieve meaningful goals. I will be assertive, pro-active and engaged. However, kindness and compassion will be a vital aspect to my approach and our therapeutic relationship.

To say a little more about the theoretical approaches, I utilize a blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Behavioral Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), interpretive analysis & intuitive wisdom, in the process to guide with experiencing true transformation. In my work with individuals, couples and adolescents, I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills along with Mindfulness-Based Behavioral Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to recognize and reevaluate how previous life experiences have possibly negatively impacted your beliefs, coping skills, cognitions, emotions and behaviors. I also offer the possibility to use art therapy to access subconscious life experiences and/or unconscious material that might be keeping you stuck and no longer serve you. My goal is to educate and create a greater sense of understanding about the purpose of our emotions. I will provide support in recognizing and replacing unhealthy patterns of relating and beliefs with more realistic and effective thoughts, thus decreasing emotional distress and self-defeating behaviors. However, counseling can be pursued not only to handle problems, but also to find more meaning in life, to live with more energy and zest, to increase the joy of being alive!

~We teach people that they upset themselves. We can't change the past, so we change how people are thinking, feeling and behaving today. -Albert Ellis~

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Using the theoretical framework of CBT, I practice early crisis intervention and brief solution-focused psychotherapy to resolve problems and reduce symptoms quickly. However, with previous experience my clients have reported the safety and support of the therapeutic relationship to be of valuable even after the initial presenting problem has been resolved. That being said, I have experience working with individuals where more intensive and/or long-term treatment is indicated. In cognitive behavioral therapy we will acknowledge that while we can't change a difficult situation of the past and even present, we can work together to better understand our thoughts and reactions related to these situations that are making life less fulfilling. Through series of structured sessions, I will guide you in learning how to shift your thinking to a more balanced and rational place.

Mindfulness Therapy
Mindfulness, or paying full attention to the present moment, can be very helpful in improving the cognitive symptoms of depression. The mindfulness component of the practice includes learning how to live your life fully in the present through the use of meditation, guided imagery, and numerous other techniques. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a therapy that combines mindfulness principles with cognitive therapy to facilitate awareness and mastery over distressed emotional states and finding balance.

A little about Art Therapy
Art therapy involves a combination of verbal therapy with art-making which allows for self-expression through a different avenue. The art process is thought to be the truest connection to the unconscious. Art Therapy focuses on artistic expression and response, not the final product. It is a common thought that you have to have experience with art or be a “good” artist to create art in a therapy session. Many people hold previous negative experiences with art, where they have been told they are or not a good artist or talented....by an art teacher or the community at large. In an art therapy session, art is simply used as a medium to facilitate communication and help with developing more in-depth self-awareness and self-development. While using art therapy there is no pressure to create an aesthetically pleasing image. As an art therapist, I am trained to pay attention to the process and create discussion around various aspects of the art, such as the phenomenological aspects of the final image. The final product of the art process, but this is not emphasized. The process and content of the image, how you feel and how you connect to the art, and the symbolism and metaphors that are brought forth through the imagery, is where the value of art therapy unfolds.

~ Individual Therapy in Virginia Beach , VA~ Couples Therapy in Virginia Beach, VA~ Adolescent Therapy in Virginia Beach, VA~ Art Therapy in Virginia Beach, VA~