Over the past 20 years I was committed to providing exceptional care to children, adolescents, adults, older adults, and families. Now that I have become an older adult my new passion is working with this population and sharing and hearing their life stories. Not only do I understand the daily struggles, but I also have an awareness of the difficulties of transitioning to this stage of their life.

Online therapy allows for greater flexibility, eliminates geographical barriers, removes travel time, and the stress of “getting ready.” They can attend the sessions from their familiar environment, which has the potential to reduce anxiety and increase rapport building and openness.

This can easily be true for anyone who struggles with anxiety or depression, but older adults need to maintain the consistency necessary to be effective in their treatment and stabilization of symptoms and daily functioning.

I am an empathetic and compassionate therapist committed to providing exceptional care. I am a warm and caring therapist who establishes rapport quickly with clients. I specialize in mental health and substance use disorders, working with clients who struggle with daily stressors and severe mental illness. I provide a person-centered communication style that is non-judgmental and supportive. I practice active listening and will give the client opportunities to reflect on their experiences as an empathetic and patient provider.

I am client-centered, with a solid focus on building upon the client’s strengths while helping them develop personal hopes and dreams. I am resourceful, creative, and solution-oriented. You will find me an active listener and a creative and critical thinker willing to address any issue. I am interested in understanding the client’s perspective so that they can feel heard and understood. I will work with the client to create a plan to handle their most difficult problems. I use cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help the client to identify and reshape unhelpful thought patterns. This approach is hands-on and gives the client the tools to feel more in control of their emotions and behaviors. I also will use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and distress tolerance skills to calm emotions and to understand their feelings and increase positive emotions. I am typically soft-spoken and generally very positive.

My career path originally was headed to law enforcement. After self-reflection and wise counsel from important people in my life, I realized I was better equipped to work with people in need of recovery or rehabilitation instead of punitive or legal consequences to their situations.

My passion for understanding people and supporting others through difficult seasons, I realized how meaningful it can be to have someone truly listen and help them make sense of emotions.

This ultimately inspired me to pursue greater understanding of mental health and those individuals that struggle with anxiety, suffer with depression, living with PTSD, challenges with drug and alcohol problems, and other addictions. I understand the range of emotions clients deal with when it comes to individual stressors and challenges.

I have also helped to treat issues including: marital/relationship issues, loss/bereavement, trauma, spirituality, physical/sexual/emotional abuse, self-esteem, personal growth, parenting, anger management, self-esteem, career difficulties, and coping with transitional life changes.

This led me to train as a Marriage and Family Therapist, learning how to help individuals heal and grow.

My first advice to someone who is starting therapy is for them to take a deep breath. I will explain that it is normal to feel nervous about the first appointment. I will inform them that I will do most of the talking today, so that they can have a minute to relax and hopefully get to know me a little better.

I will explain the importance of the therapeutic relationship and they will have control of next steps. Our first session will be an opportunity for us to get to know one another. I will help them understand that therapy is a process, and we will continue to build our working relationship together over time.

I wish clients that are new to therapy understood they do not have to go through the process alone. I would like the client to know that it is a partnership. Together the provider and the client will identify and set goals that are important to them and together whether they focus on improving relationships or other personal objectives, they are not alone and they can progress at a pace that feels right for them.

My first advice to someone who is starting therapy is for them to take a deep breath.

I will be 70 years old this Summer. I go to the gym every day, primarily to swim. I also attend a water aerobics class once a week. I try to play golf once a week when the weather allows. I volunteer at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am golf tournament once a year. I also volunteer at the Pure Insurance golf tournament annually at the same golf course. I plan to work at the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2027. I am active at my church and volunteer often for various services. I have been married for 46 years, have 3 grown children, and one granddaughter. We also have 2 cats. We enjoy traveling and spending time with family.