Background
I have been licensed in the State of Ohio since 2005 and have worked in social work and counseling since 1998. I received my Bachelors of Science in Psychology in 1998 at UMW in Virginia and my Masters in Clinical Social Work from Loyola in Chicago in 2002. Prior to specializing in a clinical therapy setting, I worked in foster care and adoption, children’s services, hospice social services and grief counseling, a residential school setting and refugee and immigrant advocacy. Since 2005, I have provided mental health therapy to both individuals and groups in the Ohio area in both non-profit settings and private practice, in both English and Spanish.
Specialties
My primary clinical approaches include mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), trauma-informed therapy including EMDR, relaxation and somatic therapies, mindfulness-based self-compassion (MBSC), and developmental trauma and attachment work.
Additional areas of my clinical expertise include anxiety and depression, life transitions, stress management, post-partum anxiety and depression, recovery from childhood abuse, anger management, enhancing recovery from substances and addictive behaviors and habits, LGBTQ issues, domestic violence, grief and loss, fertility issues, parenting support, mood disorders, PTSD, sexual assault recovery, victims of crime recovery and advocacy, immigration and acculturation issues and intimate partner relationship issues.
For over a decade, I developed and led therapy groups to support women in nurturing healthy relationships and recovering from trauma such as domestic violence and sexual assault. I also have extensive experience in treating in survivors of crime and childhood and adult abuse.
I find most people, regardless of past or current challenges they face, struggle to validate and honor their own pain and recognize their unique strengths. Learning the tools of CBT, mindfulness, relaxation and self-compassion can elevate and enhance your innate ability and motivation to heal and grow while finding a personalized approach that works for you.
EMDR: I have been practicing EMDR since 2008 and am Level I & II trained by the EMDR Institute. To learn more about EMDR, please see emdria.org.
Approach
I am passionate about providing caring and competent counseling services that are geared to the whole person. My approach is dynamic, integrative, mindful, trauma-informed, and self-compassion based. I see all people as individuals with unique strengths and not as diagnoses. I believe that whether we struggle with daily life stressors, depression, anxiety, addictions, mood issues, past trauma, life transitions, parenting issues, or other challenges, we have an innate capacity to heal ourselves and a desire to continue to grow throughout the lifespan. Many of the areas or habits we may wish to change about ourselves now have often developed from adverse experiences and served to protect us at that time. I support your desire to work on change, while understanding together what strengths and coping skills have brought you this far. Reaching out to a counselor in a time of need is a courageous move, and I work with clients on finding a greater sense of well-being and harmony in their lives. As a firm believer in client self-empowerment, I will support you in creating a collaborative therapy process with the amount of structure and pacing to fit your specific needs and goals.
I am fluent in Spanish and have been working in Spanish-language therapy since 2004, including abroad. I am able to provide culturally competent and appropriate services around issues unique to the immigrant and refugee experience as well as intercultural relationships and parenting experiences.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling, reading, painting, swimming, yoga, cooking, and spending time with my family and children.
Free Phone Consultation & First Session/Consultation
I believe every potential therapy client deserves a great fit with a therapist. I am happy to provide a free 10 to 15-minute phone consultation prior to setting up a first appointment to answer questions you may have and help you determine if my services are right for you. In addition, I envision our first session as a time not only for me to understand your needs, hopes and goals in therapy, but also as a time for you to see if I am the right fit for you and provide consultation about the types of services I can offer you. I look forward to helping you find the best possible fit for you!