About Therapy
Most women and teenage girls are looking for change to varying degrees.
We desire change within ourselves, our environment, and our relationships.
Women are asked to be everything to everyone while looking put together and achieving greatness all at the same time!
There is a great deal of stress and unrealistic expectations placed on women. The problem is, it simply is not possible or sustainable to keep up that pace of life.
Often, we don’t understand how to shift our world to be at peace in the day to day. Our relationships may be functioning, but you know there is a desperate longing for growth. We desire positive change within ourselves, but our time and energy are maxed out holding everything together.
Sometimes we don’t even know what types of changes we need, but we just know we must do something differently.
One thing is for sure, I adore my clients.
My clients range from adolescence through adulthood and are extremely gifted humans!
During the teenage years, girls can be swallowed up by self-confidence issues, academic pressure, anxiety and depression, trauma and perfectionism. Teenagers need a supportive person who genuinely “gets them” and their challenging phase of life.
Having a counselor during the teenage years can save teens the burden of taking unnecessary hurt and baggage into adulthood. Together, we will rebuild confidence and implement ways to manage the stressors that plague the teenage years.
Suddenly, we become women with a vast amount of responsibilities and have no idea what happened or how we got to this overwhelming state of being. The pressures of family, career goals, and body issues we place on ourselves can feel crushing with little guidance how to navigate it all. Together, we will explore ways for you to manage the pressures of life while still having time for YOU!
Therapy offers the wisdom and support needed to make change possible.
… for you to work on the goals we set together.
Where there is a problem, there is a goal. Whatever problems you are facing, we will set goals together. Then the most important part… we will develop a plan to get there.
This is where my education and training come in. The plan will consist of special techniques, interventions, and experiential processes to help you reach your goals.
Some people wonder if coming to therapy is like talking with a friend. Not exactly, because counselors are trained to see your situation from a special perspective and know how to help you implement positive changes.
It is my goal to create a safe, welcoming environment…
The brain loves safety! Long-lasting, positive change is only going to happen when you feel safe in your environment and your relationships. This is true in the counseling relationship as well.
When you pull up to my counseling office, you will find a cozy welcoming cabin that has been decorated with you in mind. We want you to not just feel welcomed but wanted.
The gently moving creek on the property, the deer grazing on the grass, the comfy sitting areas, and the wide drink offerings are just for you to know we believe you are worth it, and you are valued.
Genuine, trustworthy, well-educated, and comfortable to be with…
This is the kind of therapist I aspire to be – not just because research shows clients do much better with a counselor who has these traits, but because I believe it to be absolutely necessary in order for you to thrive in therapy.
I am indeed a real person, and I value my clients bringing their authentic selves. Clients have shared with me how comfortable they felt after just the first session. Such huge compliments I cherish.
About Me
Education and training…
My experience and training allow me to work with all different backgrounds and ages, but I specifically choose to work with women from adolescence through adulthood.
I started studying psychology and relationship dynamics earning my bachelor’s degree at the University of Georgia. I then received my master’s degree in professional counseling from Liberty University.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Georgia and have received specialized training in EMDR and Trauma-Focused Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy.
The most important aspect of my formal education and training is how I translate my knowledge to helping teens and women in real life. I break academic language down to an easily digestible form, and we will apply it to your life in a way that is exciting!
All my clients know how passionate I get when talking about the brain and why it’s doing what it is. No one wants to sit in an office and feel overwhelmed by psychological jargon. Think of me as a well-educated person – but, more importantly, someone who is easy to connect with.
My desire to work with women…
… deepened from my experience at an inpatient facility where I had specialized training to work with teenagers and women who had been rescued from human trafficking from the Atlanta area.
This experience helped me to see that all women, regardless of their specific challenges, have basic needs and desires which must be met in order to make positive changes. I saw how the strategies used within the treatment facility helped women heal from painful memories and dark situations.
In my counseling practice, I use those same methods on a regular basis. For that, I will be forever grateful for the women and young girls who taught me so much about healing and resilience.
When I’m not doing therapy…
I am married to Will (who has a cool job as a designer), and we have two children, Copeland and Afton. We also have two French Bulldogs which entertain us constantly.
They help me to practice what I preach to my clients, and I work hard to find the balance in the various areas of my life.
In what free time I have left over, I enjoy taking a yoga class, attempting dressage, and going to Trader Joe’s (I would love to hear if you have a favorite Trader Joe’s item).