Hello!
As a new(er) member of the Ignite team, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and provide an overview of my experience, background and specialties that fuel my passion for being a therapist, so that you, dear reader, can see if we may be a match!
I received my Master’s degree in 2010 from Regis University’s Clinical Counseling program and I have been working in the counseling field ever since, becoming licensed as a professional counselor in 2013.
My career has taken many shapes over the years, but the bulk of my time has been spent working with addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders, while working in hospital and agency settings as part of a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, coaches, support staff and fellow clinicians.
While working with substance abuse, misuse and addiction will always remain a passion for me clinically, I wanted to broaden my horizons and the people that I could serve. I joined the Ignite team in early 2022 and have been thrilled with the unique landscape of what I am now treating and the clients I am working with.
Now, in addition to continuing to work with substance abuse and misuse, I am trained in a modality called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and I am scheduled to start training for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) in July, to treat individuals with significant trauma in their history.
I am also a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) and work with individuals struggling with sex, love and pornography addiction, by incorporating the 30 task model developed by Dr. Patrick Carnes, known as the foremost expert on sex addiction.
My approach in a nutshell:
I am what’s called a client-centered therapist. I value trust, authenticity, unconditional positive regard and vulnerability. My role in the therapeutic alliance is to work collaboratively with you to outline goals, identify barriers and work to build a foundation to help you get where you want to be. Our dynamic is more of a partnership – you in the driver’s seat– and we work as a team to help you achieve your goals and overcome obstacles that are preventing you from getting there.
I infuse Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques, pertaining to the 4 main modules of:
Interpersonal Effectiveness: How to better focus on the goal or purpose of an interaction, which is often a tangible outcome
Distress Tolerance: How to accept reality and not engage in unskillful or impulsive behaviors
Emotional Regulation: How to better manage intense emotions and reduce self destructive behavior
Mindfulness: Helps individuals to become more present in the moment
I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) into my work, to help clients better understand how their beliefs, thoughts and feelings influence behaviors, as well as utilizing strengths-based and solution focused strategies.
Ignite has opened so many doors for me and allowed me to grow professionally by giving me the opportunity to work with a wide array of clinical pictures and diverse backgrounds.
I am thrilled to be a part of this team and it would be an honor to work with you! You are welcome to schedule a free phone consultation here to see if we would be a good fit.