Individual & Family counseling

When people embark on individual and/or family therapy, they often are unsure of what to expect. In my practice, psycho-therapeutic treatment is most often approached from a cognitive-behavioral perspective and a belief in mental health recovery. “Recovery” is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. The principles of my practice are hope and respect; acceptance of many paths to health; that people are the experts of their lives; that community, family, and social-supports matter; that exploration of trauma histories is important; and, that recovery is culturally-based and influenced. In the end, therapy will be a collaborative effort. I will work to consistently display compassion. I will respect your autonomy and right to your own decision-making. And, I will work to evoke from you your own solutions to your circumstances.

Gottman Method Couples Therapy

(Level 2 Trained)

The Gottman Method Theory aims to increase friendship and closeness in couples. It does this by showing couples ways to deal with problems and conflicts in a positive way. Not all problems have a solution (AKA “Solvable Problems”), but the theory is that you can learn to live with “Unsolvable problems” and not allow them to destroy your relationship. The theory also focuses on building a shared life together. That involves being more attentive and considerate to your partner. Making tiny positive changes in small, everyday things can make the relationship more stable, supportive, and stronger so that the relationship can grow and develop. The main goals of the Gottman Method are to provide strategies to disarm conflicting verbal communication; increase intimacy, respect, and affection; remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy; and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship.

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) was developed by Drs. Anthony Mannarino, Judith Cohen, and Esther Deblinger. TF-CBT is an evidenced-based treatment that has been evaluated and refined during the past 25 years to help children and adolescents recover after trauma.  TF-CBT is a structured, short-term treatment model that effectively improves a range of trauma-related outcomes in 8-25 sessions with the child/adolescent and caregiver. Although TF-CBT is highly effective at improving youth Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnosis, a PTSD diagnosis is not required in order to receive this treatment.  TF-CBT also effectively addresses many other trauma impacts, including affective (e.g., depressive, anxiety), cognitive and behavioral problems, as well as improving the participating parent/caregiver's personal distress about the child's traumatic experience, effective parenting skills, and supportive interactions with the child.

 Clinical Supervision

Beginning clinical supervision towards  full licensure in the State of North Carolina is an important step in your professional development. My supervisory style is guided by the Reflective Supervision model. In supporting the core trauma-informed goals of trust, safety, collaboration, empowerment, and choice/control, successful supervision through the lens of Reflective Supervision is relationship-based and allows for examination of the supervisee’s feelings or thoughts about a particular case and uses this awareness to better serve the client.  By creating a supervisory relationship that is trusting, safe, collaborative, and open to sharing choice and control, Reflective Supervision strives to model the desired relationship between provider and client in a therapeutic/helping relationship. If you are interested in learning more about receiving clinical supervision from me, please email or call. 

cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) was developed by Patricia Resick in the early 1990s and combines cognitive therapy and trauma processing (Resick, Monson & Chard, 2008).  CPT is an evidenced-based manualized treatment protocol that has been found effective for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in adults.  It focuses on how the traumatic event is constructed and coped with by a person who is trying to regain a sense or mastery and control over their life.  The treatment is typically conducted as a 12 session protocol with a recommended follow-up session around 30 days after the end of treatment.  In CPT, cognitive therapy techniques are utilized to focus on unhelpful thoughts related to traumatic events.  It is theorized that individuals who develop PTSD following an exposure to a traumatic event experience significant disruption in pre-existing beliefs.  These disrupted beliefs are manifested in inaccurate self-statements that interrupt or "stall" the recovery process.  

Written Exposure Therapy (WET)

The best treatments for PTSD are trauma-focused talk therapies. These treatments help you process—or work through—your traumatic experience.

Written Exposure Therapy (WET) is a brief, 5-session psychotherapy—or talk therapy—for PTSD. WET can help you find new ways to think about a traumatic experience and what it means to you. Writing about what you were thinking and feeling during the event and then talking with your provider about the writing session can help you get relief from PTSD symptoms.