Qualifications & Experience

I received my Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Northwest University in 2010. Northwest is accredited by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities. My graduate program included an emphasis on faith, social justice, and culture. My bachelor’s degree is in psychology with a minor in biblical literature.

I have extensive training and experience with bereavement counseling. Through my clinical internship at Providence Hospice and Homecare, I helped clients work through the pain of grief. With over 10 years of private practice experience, I have gained expertise in helping individuals navigate loss, relationship issues, codependency, childhood trauma, and self-abandonment. I am a dually licensed counselor and able to serve clients residing in California and Washington State.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I always wanted to be a therapist. From a young age, I was fascinated with how relationships worked and curious about human behavior. I intuitively knew things about people, easily identified patterns, and enjoyed solving problems. My own trauma compelled me to search for more than the status quo. Even before I knew God, He was guiding me with His wisdom. I learned to resource my pain and discovered how to use it to better my life. When I met Jesus, I encountered hope and deeply connected to His heart to redeem pain. I wanted to create a space where people could anchor to redemption. My work as a therapist is personally meaningful because I give my clients what I wished I knew. To guide people along the journey of self-discovery and healing is truly a privilege.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I have been married for 14 years and have a 6-year-old son. We moved from Seattle to Redding in 2018. We like the small-town feeling of Redding and have a passion to see the city thrive. I love Jesus and enjoy creating community. My favorite moments in life are connecting with the ones I love around the dinner table. I love palm trees, coffee, fitness, traveling, nutritional wellness, and writing. I thrive when I am learning something new and feel inspired.

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Abandonment and Neglect
• Anxiety
• Coaching
• Codependency
• Depression
• Grief and Loss
• Individual Counseling
• Infidelity and Affairs
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Professional Development
• Relationship Issues
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Women’s Issues

Codependency

Codependency is an unhealthy, one-sided relationship in which two people are unable to act independently from each other. This type of enmeshed relationship can be very difficult to untether yourself from because it is fraught with emotional entanglement, guilt, over-involvement, control, rescuing, and high expectations. The codependent feels responsible for the dependent. It is the choice to fulfill someone else’s needs to such a degree that it costs you yourself. In therapy, I will help you identify your codependent patterns and discover the root of this survival mechanism. Understanding the why often releases us to choose something different. I will teach you self-regulation, boundaries, assertive skills, and confrontation techniques, as well as how to release responsibility for what is not yours and let go of control. The heart of our work will be on grounding to your intrinsic worth, fostering internal safety, and living a life congruent with your heart.

Grief & Loss

Navigating loss is one of the most painful human experiences. Grief is not pathological, but a normal visceral reaction to loss and often a sign of your emotional investment. I offer a nonjudgmental, safe space for you to process the significance of the loss and explore how it has impacted your life. Together we will go on a sacred journey of allowing your heart to grieve. You will learn radical honesty and self-compassion. Though grief is a universal experience, it is also an incredibly personal one. I will help you identify your grieving path and give you tools to work through the pain of grief. I am here to support you as you adjust to the new normal and get your bearings. Much of our work will focus on two questions: How can I honor my grief, and how can I take care of myself today?

Abandonment

Abandonment issues are intense fears of losing connection with someone you care about. These anxieties originated from experiences that left you feeling like you could not count on others to take care of you or be there for you in the way you needed. Connection is a basic human need, which is why abandonment is a traumatic shock to your system; you suddenly feel cut off from a significant relationship. Many people turn against themselves because they believe something is inherently wrong with them. Self-betrayal becomes the way they preserve relationships and avoid further rejection. Your need to feel safe, connected, and loved is important. In therapy, you will learn how to challenge shame and take your power back. We will explore how you can show up as your greatest advocate. I will teach you how to break patterns of self-betrayal, confront fear, shift unhealthy relationship dynamics, and gain self-respect. Our focus will be on rebuilding trust with yourself, connecting to your intuition, and validating your self-worth.

Trauma

Childhood trauma can profoundly wound us and impact adult functioning and interpersonal relationships. Trauma is not limited to acute or catastrophic events. Trauma is also the chronic weathering of the soul through ongoing interactions that inflict deep emotional, psychological, and physical pain. I create a safe space for you to process in the presence of someone who will hear your truth. All your feelings are welcome here. You can bring all the parts of yourself here. Your tears are real. Your pain matters. Your voice deserves to be heard. Part of trauma work is learning to safely reconnect to yourself and bless a body that has endured shame, fear and suffering. I help my clients attune to the needs of their inner child and explore with them what it looks like to nurture and heal their younger self. You will learn how to deeply love yourself in the pain as well as how to advocate for yourself and reclaim what was stolen from you.

Sessions: I offer 45-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):

• Online Counseling – Thursday and Friday

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) a majority of 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 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 3.7% plus $0.15 per transaction will be added for credit card payments.