License and Qualifications
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHS)
Mental Health Professional (MHP)
Washington State Department of Health
Education
Argosy University
Masters of Arts- Counseling Psychology
Washington State University
Bachelor of Arts- Sociology
Therapy Approaches I Utilize
Art Therapy (I’m not an art therapist)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Eclectic Therapy
Existential Psychotherapy
Family Systems Therapy
Humanistic / Person Centered
Play Therapy (I’m not a play therapist)
Psychoanalytic
Structural Family Therapy
Professional Affiliations
National Certified Counselor (NCC)
American Counseling Association (ACA)
Psychology Today
Experience
My therapeutic experience began working with youth and families in the foster care system. Specifically working with children, tweens, and adolescents with severe emotional and behavioral challenges. I started out working in a residential facility for adolescent girls ages 12-18 years old. This experience stressed the importance of how critical a support system is throughout the child and adolescents developmental years. I continued working with the foster care population after residential care, but I transitioned to community based therapeutic services with a non-profit agency. While working at the community based non-profit agency, I worked with children and adolescents ages 6-18 years old. In addition to working with children and adolescents, I also worked and partnered with therapeutic foster parents, biological families, kinship care placements, and adoptive families. I learned a great deal in working with diverse youth and families in addition to how vital the family unit is to helping support children and adolescents with individual struggles and challenges.
Currently, I continue to work with children, tweens, adolescents, and young adults who face a multitude of challenges. I work with youth (6-18) and young adults (19-25ish) who experience anxiety, depression, ADHD, anger, relationship challenges, and life transitions. I understand the developmental stages of childhood physical and emotional growth, in addition to recognizing the changes in family dynamics as children develop into teenagers and young adulthood. My goal is to support you and your family through the challenges that life may bring and provide a safe and comfortable environment that allows for a non-judgmental and open conversation and self-exploration.
Common Questions
What is Your Therapeutic Approach?
My therapeutic approach is through a humanistic/person-centered and family systems lens. My philosophy is helping children, tweens, adolescents, and young adults to find their inner balance, increasing self-awareness, and gain a sense of emotional control.
What Do Your Credentials Mean?
I currently hold credentials as a License Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) as well as a Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHS). As a LMHC, I am currently licensed through the state of Washington. I have met the requirements to be a therapist by completing a Master's Degree, licensure requirements, and maintaining adequate training. As a CMHS I have worked with children and adolescents for many years in various settings. I have experience working with children and adolescents with severe emotional and behavioral issues with various mental health diagnoses. My goal in working with children is to help children explore their thoughts and feelings and help them discover coping skills that work for them in various situations.
Do You Accept Insurance?
I am not in network with any insurance providers. However, many health insurances offer an "out-of-network" or "non-network" provider options. Most insurance providers generally reimburse 30-80 percent of my fee. I will be happy to provide an itemized receipt upon payment for each session, which you can submit to your insurance provider. I am also willing to submit claims directly on your behalf on a monthly basis upon your request. Please check with your insurance provider for additional information. Also, I do accept Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). Please note that insurance providers require a mental health diagnoses (from the DSM IV or DSM 5) for billing purposes. I do not believe everyone needs diagnoses to receive therapeutic services. Here are the forms of payment I do accept.
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