I started with wanting to help children in a school setting; that slowly evolved into working with families that were struggling with significant behavioral issues at home. I do also have my own personal experience, while that is not the "shared experience of everyone", does help me have a unique understanding and perspective of what families are going through.

I work really well with clients who are motivated but also maybe a bit unsure about how to proceed. I have a good sense of humor that I tend to bring into sessions as well.

Healing is not an "upward" journey. You will have dips. You're going to have bad days. It's what you do in those bad days, those dips, that counts. Therapy can be difficult and uncomfortable; we will talk about things that maybe you've actively (or passively) avoided thinking about for years. My job is to get you to confront those things and I do so in the calmest, gentlest manner possible.

The first few sessions may seem a bit overwhelming. There are a lot of questions, mainly because I am trying to get to know you and what you would like to work on. I am transparent with you on what I have to ask; if there's something you don't feel comfortable answering, you can tell me that. My job in those first few sessions is just to get to know you, what you want and to build a therapeutic relationship with you.

I feel like therapy needs to be client-driven. My values are simple: we work on what you feel you need to work on. I may have a differing opinion and yes, I will voice it but, in the end, your goals are your own and I will support you on your journey. My own experience tells me that therapists who try to tell their clients what their goals should be end up having clients who are unsuccessful because those goals aren't what the clients want to work on. I want to see the people I work with be successful and happy going forward and I truly feel that you know what's best for you.

Therapy is an individual process. As I've said before, I truly feel that my clients are in the driver's seat in their sessions. My clients identify their goals; my job is to support and provide the necessary tools so my clients can meet those goals successfully.