You are the expert on your life, and I will be there to support you. I will work with you to help identify your goals and empower you to make positive changes in your life. My approach is compassionate, direct, and non-judgmental. I believe that collaboration and validation are the keys to a meaningful partnership and help to create an environment where you feel supported in your counseling journey. I am a passionate and energetic person. Some folks would say I am loud, but when I am in relationship and in connection with others, I cannot help but express my passionate energy. I am confident and know who I am and I believe these attributes help to showcase my compassion and commitment to the therapeutic process.
As a partner in a long term committed relationship, a mother of two, and a lifelong MN Vikings fan, I bring an understanding of what joys and challenges accompany many relationships.
I graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a degree in Child Psychology. After several years of using my empathetic people skills in various venues (corporate and community engagement), I decided to pursue an advanced degree. I hold a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. When I state that I really love working with couples and relationships, I am not exaggerating. I have intentionally immersed myself deeply in couples and relational counseling, most recently working at a clinic to hone specific skills and interventions for couples engaged in repetitive negative interaction cycles. I also have training in mediation/conflict resolution and infuse these skills into my work. I value learning and personal growth, so who knows what other passions I will pick up along the way.
Above everything, I treasure relationships. I believe clinical psychologist Sue Johnson said it best: "There is no other experience that will have more impact on our lives, our happiness and health, than our success at loving at being loved."
My therapeutic approach is guided by Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). This focus helps to discover strategies that promote awareness, expression, acceptance and transformation of emotion. The goals of EFT are strengthening the self and creating new meaning.
I enjoy working with individuals and couples of all sexual orientations and gender identities. This means that I want to take the taboo out of talking about sex, love, intimacy. My specific clinical interests focus on intimacy issues, sexual distress related to desire or arousal discrepancies, women’s concerns, self-esteem, confidence, anxiety, depression, parenting and grief/loss.
I have a passion for music, it is part of my therapy; some of my favorite artists are Depeche Mode, George Michael, Marvin Gaye and anything in the Yacht Rock Genre. I love playing board games especially anything trivia related, and I am always on the hunt for “the best” pizza, chips & guacamole, cheeseburger, bagel, cookie…
Patronus: Turtle
MBTI: ENFJ-A
Enneagram: 8
