Along with my twenty five years plus of professional counseling practice, I have a lifetime of challenges that have added to my understanding and compassion of my clients; Joyful experiences such as adoption to life altering traumas as death by suicide and illness of loved ones. All people are different and there is not just one or two or even three "appropriate" ways to deal with life events. Our timelines and our processing needs are individual. Each person is capable of knowing what is right for themselves. Together, respectfully, I help my clients find what is helpful for themselves. Then my client will reach their goals with my support, suggestion and encouragement. All efforts, whether productive or not, are valuable. Change is inevitable and my clients feel empowered to make adjustments that bring the results that are needed. Your journey,your life values; I will accompany you to understand and meet your own needs.

Treatment is results oriented, which means we work together at the beginning to define the changes that are meaningful to you. In a basic sense, psychotherapy is for thinking about feelings. We are all part of systems, be they family, work or society. The outcome is more freedom to be yourself. With children, treatment approach is family-centered. In the long run, the best therapist for your child is you, the parent. Parent consultation is an integral part of treatment for children and teens. Play space, art therapy and parent observation available. Psychological testing and family meetings are options. In Couples Counseling or Marital Therapy the patient is the relationship. In couples treatment, i thoughtfully guide your interactions to encourage better understanding of each other. This approach reduces the tendency to blame one another for differences, and leads the two of you into your own manner of accepting them. Pet-Assisted Therapy (PAT).

Each of us is unique, complex and special. Together we can resolve the inner and outer conflicts that create pain and exhaustion. Our life often brings experiences not of our choosing. Sometimes we’re hurt by others. Sometimes we don’t fit easily into the world we live in. Sometimes what life brings feels too big to accept and manage. I can help you find peaceful and practical ways of doing the best you can with what is, of managing your self and situations with compassion and skill, of finding joy and nourishment in this life at this time. For over 25 years I have been practicing my craft with children, adolescents, middle adults, elders, couples and families. They have come to me with developmental, situational and relational issues. Some had experienced tragedies; some felt overwhelmed by their children or partner. Some were deeply grieving, some filled with anger. Some had illnesses or disabilities they wish they didn’t. Each of them added to my understanding of what it is to be human. Most of us long for happiness, self acceptance, caring relationships and success in our endeavors. Together, drawing from my extensive training and experience and your inner and outer resources, we can create meaningful, lasting and joyful change.