I grew up in a small town on the lake in beautiful northern Minnesota.  Time in Minnesota instilled in me a love for nature and water.  I also learned how to cultivate deep friendships, work through the loss of a close friend to suicide and grow through the experience of parental divorce.  From there I headed west to the ocean to complete my undergraduate degree in Psychology and K-8 Teaching Certification in Seattle, WA.  During this time, I sought counseling for myself to heal from the pain of broken relationships, abuse, grief and loss.  In the years after college, I spent time in East Africa teaching, traveling with the African Children’s choir and returning to teach kindergarten in the Seattle area.  I married my college sweetheart and moved to Colorado in 1996.  Over the years we have raised three wonderful children and weathered many storms. 

When I turned 50, I decided to pursue my master’s degree in counseling…something I dreamed of for 30 years.  This transition along with many other life experiences solidified my passion to walk alongside others in their own struggles and life transitions.  I help individuals of all ages, with an emphasis on assisting women, adolescents, young adults, and couples.

I have personal experience and training in overcoming anxiety, depression, codependency, abuse, losing a loved one, parenting, launching children into young adulthood, changing careers, pre-marriage, marriage, helping children of divorced parents, navigating the teen and young adult years, caring for aging parents, women’s issues, supporting families of alcoholics, and providing psychoeducation. I also offer help in exploring Christian spiritual formation and direction for clients who express a desire to have this perspective included in sessions.

I believe therapy is successful when the therapist and client have a safe, positive relationship and when a client is willing to work toward change.  As a therapist I can be both client centered and directive.  My approach to counseling is integrative as I incorporate psychodynamic, existential, humanistic, and behavioral theories and techniques in sessions. I believe in a holistic approach to therapy addressing, mind, body, and spirit. My goal is to draw on theories and techniques that are tailored to compliment the client’s needs. 

In session we may look at early attachment relationships, how past events are affecting the client and spend a considerable amount of time focusing on perspectives, narratives, thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and behaviors associated with them.  We also explore systems in the client’s life that contribute to client concerns. I believe clients have a choice and are responsible for the changes they desire. If clients commit to do the hard work, positive change will occur.   Throughout the course of therapy, I may assign client’s homework or exercises to complete that will assist in their progress. The theories that most align with my approach are Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Attachment and Emotionally Focused Therapy.

When I’m not in the office I can be found hiking in our gorgeous Front Range mountains, taking a yoga class, gardening, sipping tea, gourmet cooking, digging into Bible study, dreaming about the beach, hanging out with friends, and visiting family.