Welcome
Finding Hope and Healing Through Honest Acceptance & Mental Health Therapy
Compassionate mental health counseling for individuals and couples from all walks of life.
My Mission, Approach, and Me
My Mission
My mission is to provide high-quality counseling services to individuals, couples, and families who are experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties. I ensure all persons, regardless of identifiers, are recognized and respected for their unique cultural background and values.
I adhere to strict confidentiality and cultural competency standards, and I am dedicated to ensuring that information shared in counseling remains private, with exceptions for legal and ethical requirements.
My Approach
I believe in taking a client-centered approach to counseling, where I work collaboratively with clients to identify goals and develop a personalized plan for treatment.
Every person deserves to live a life that includes serenity and peace of mind. Through the use of Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Practical Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or Solution Focused Therapy, clients develop, learn, and internalize coping skills needed to move through life’s traumas and stressors.
About Me
I've spent years working with the elderly, homeless, veterans, foster children and their families, and individuals with disabilities. I’ve worked with adults and children experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, relationship and parenting issues, grief and loss, domestic abuse, substance and alcohol addiction, from any culture or ethnicity.
Prior to therapy, I spent 4 years in the Marine Corps, special forces, and understand the impacts of past trauma. I have personally experienced the loss of a child and truly understand loss and grief. Also, with 33 years of addiction recovery myself, I understand and empathize with both the individual and the family as a whole.
What is the Framework for treatment?
Framework of Treatment
This framework for counseling services outlines the key components and principles that may guide our journey through the counseling process. Although each person's path to healing is unique, there are foundational aspects that happen within every scenario.
These include:
Assessment and Intake: The process begins with an initial assessment to understand your concerns, goals, and the nature of the issues you are facing. During this process I will collect relevant background information, history, and any previous counseling experiences.
Establishing Therapeutic Rapport: Build a trusting and therapeutic relationship is key to our success. We will establish clear boundaries and expectations for the counseling relationship based on empathy, active listening, and a non-judgmental attitude.
Setting Goals and Objectives: Together we will work collaboratively to identify and set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for the counseling process. Therapy is a collaborative effort, where we set goals to measure your progress and celebrate your growth. Regular progress reviews are part of the treatment, allowing us to explore graduation from treatment upon achieving your intended outcomes.
Choice of Counseling Approaches: Together we will determine what counseling techniques and approaches should be used based on your needs and goals. The counseling modalities will be tailored to your individual's unique circumstances and preferences. The frequency and duration of which may vary depending on the needs and the counseling approach.
Counseling Sessions: During ongoing counseling sessions, you will be provided feedback and opportunities for reflection to help gain insight and self-awareness. You may be encouraged to explore feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. You may also be encouraged to explore new coping strategies and life skills to help manage challenges and develop resilience.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Possible Crisis Intervention: As part of the therapeutic process, we will continuously assess your progress toward your goals and objectives and make adjustments to the treatment plan and counseling approach as needed. As part of our monitoring process, we will be prepared to respond to crisis situations or emergencies, such as suicidal ideation or severe emotional distress, and develop a safety plan and have crisis intervention protocols in place, as needed.
Termination and Follow-Up: Together we will discuss how we will terminate sessions, including reviewing progress, addressing any remaining concerns, and obtaining resources and referrals for continued support if necessary. You will not be left alone.
This framework serves as a general guideline for the steps we take through the process of healing. It's important to remember that counseling is an individualized process, and the specific strategies and techniques will vary based on the client's unique needs.