Philosophy and Approach to Counseling

I am a systemic therapist. Whether you come in individually, with your partner, or family, I will consider how your relationships and other contextual factors may contribute to the development and resolution of your current problem. If you are wanting help with couple or family problems, I will encourage your partner and/or family to be a part of counseling because I believe it is the most effective way to help you resolve a variety of problems. 

At the beginning of therapy, I will help you discuss the problems you would like to solve. While I find it helpful to have some information about your history, I will mostly focus on your present and your future without the problem. We will work collaboratively to set goals and identify strengths you have to resolve your problem and accomplish your goals. Therapy will be over when you feel you have the skills necessary to solve your problems and complete your goals on your own. The length of therapy varies for each person/family and depends on your goals. I generally practice from structural, strategic, and solution-focused perspectives. 

Individual and Family Counseling:

I will help you develop skills and identify resources needed to improve relationships; navigate life transitions, such as grieving the loss of a loved one, pregnancy, adjusting to new children, adolescence, divorce and remarriage, and merging of step-families, and  overcome problems of anxiety and depression. 

Couples:

I will assist you in developing skills needed to do your part to strengthen your relationship, improve communication, navigate transitions, explore  past hurts and betrayal,  and renew your commitment to each other. In addition, we'll develop a plan for you to continue to  identify and address strengths and growth areas on your own.

Supervision:

I really enjoy mentoring therapists in such a rewarding profession. Through supervision, I will help you develop your skills, theory, and practice. I'm an AAMFT supervisor in training and an approved supervisor in the state of Oregon. I'd love to help you work towards your goal of becoming a licensed professional counselor or a licensed marriage and family therapist. 

About Me

I have been working as a marriage and family therapist for almost nine years. I have a Bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Oregon and a Masters degree in marriage and family therapy from George Fox University. I am currently working on my dissertation as a part of obtaining my Ph.D. in human development at Virginia Tech. In addition to clinical supervision and counseling, I teach classes at a local university in a marriage and family therapy and counseling graduate program.