Qualifications & Experience

I have a BA in Sociology and an MA in Clinical Psychology, specializing in Family Therapy from Antioch University in Seattle. Additional trainings I have completed include Recognizing and Addressing Domestic Violence in the Christian Community (2016), Dynamics of Domestic Violence: Working with Perpetrators (2013), Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship (2015), Rewire the Anxious Brain: Applied Neuroscience for Treating Anxiety, Panic, and Worry (2021), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: 3-Day Intensive CBT Training (2015), and Lifespan Integration Training, Levels 1 and 2 (2016).

My Call to Christian Counseling

Having been in the social services in my previous career for about 20 years, I had the opportunity to help change people’s living conditions. Though that gave me a lot of satisfaction, I felt that the kind of help I was providing was not bringing a lasting change in behavioral and mental health. I wanted to pursue a counseling career because I wanted to help people get an understanding of the roots to their problems and help them explore their challenges to create awareness and lasting solutions by providing tools for change and transformation.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I am a mother, a sister, and a daughter who gives high value to familial relationships. Therefore, I spend most of my free time with my family. As a follower of Christ, I love to fellowship with the body of Christ and spend time doing church-related activities. I also love nature and spending time outdoors enjoying God’s creation.

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Abandonment and Neglect
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Counseling for Children
• Counseling for Teens
• Depression
• Family Counseling
• Grief and Loss
• Individual Counseling
• Lifespan Integration
• Online Counseling
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Relationship Issues
• Trauma
• Women’s Issues

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that affects our feelings, thought processes, and behavior. It may also affect our ability to do normal, day-to-day activities or even cause us to feel as if life is not worth living. If you are feeling depressed, therapy is a treatment option that has been proven to help. I have years of experience working with clients who suffer from depression (including Major Depressive Disorder, Postpartum Depression, and Seasonal Affective Disorder).

As your therapist, I will provide you with a safe place to explore the cause for your depressive feelings and/or sense of hopelessness. I will listen with empathetic understanding and a non-judgmental attitude while equipping you with tools to help lessen your symptoms.

Grief and Loss

There is a difference between mourning and grieving. While mourning is the outward expression of our feelings, grief is what we feel and think on the inside. However, we may experience grief for a long time, feeling uncomfortable to outwardly express our grief because of a fear of feeling ashamed or weak.

If you are dealing with grief and loss, I would like to help. As your therapist, I will provide you with a genuine and culturally-sensitive support to help you process your grief and outwardly express it. I offer a compassionate, safe space for you to understand and cope with your grief and loss.

Anxiety

I believe that the present is inextricably linked to the past. While the situations of today do influence how we feel, our past experiences play a big role in how we respond to the situations that occur in our day-to-day lives. We may also be puzzled by our fearful, anxious, or extreme negative reactions to certain situations. If the above experiences sound familiar, I would be glad to help. As a therapist trained in Lifespan Integration, a body-based therapy model that heals past trauma, I will help you figure out and work through whatever traumatic past underlies your current unwanted anxiety. In addition, I will help you gain knowledge and tools to overcome your symptoms of anxiety so you can find relief and lasting peace, with God’s help.

Parent-Child Relationship Issues

Raising children in this culture is becoming exceedingly challenging. If you are having difficulty with your parenting, I would like to help. Besides being a mom to two adult children, in my practice I have years of experience working with parents who have been distressed by parenting issues. I am also a certified Positive Discipline parenting group leader and have taught multiple classes based on this parenting style. I offer a safe place where you can express your frustration and challenges related to parenting and will work with you to explore relevant solutions.

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• Mill Creek – Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday
• Everett – Tuesday
• Online (WA Only) – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction may be added for credit card payments.