I have been in practice since 2011, when I graduated with my MA in Professional Counseling. In 2015 I earned my PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, and moved to NWA. I believe that people grow through and toward healthy connection with others, which is why the relationship is at the center of my approach.

I work primarily with adults who have experienced trauma—often, but not always, during childhood or young adulthood—and help to organize and clarify how their experiences and the meaning drawn from them are now shaping their relationships with others and themselves.

My clinical history is varied but includes working with military active duty and veterans, military spouses, survivors of intimate partner violence, survivors of childhood trauma (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and neglect), and behavioral and substance addictions.

I also work with individuals who are navigating relationship stress or separation, infertility, postpartum challenges, “mom guilt,” and other challenges related to identity, “spousing,” and parenting.

I practice as a sex positive, kink friendly, and LGBTQ+ affirming counselor

RELATIONAL CULTURAL THEORY (RCT)

I believe that all people grow through and toward authentic connection with others. When we are not in authentic connection, we are hiding parts of ourselves that we fear will be rejected in an attempt to stay connected. We all do this, whether we realize it or not. We operate in current relationships based on the templates we’ve had from the care we received when we were young, the relationships we observed around us, and the messages we received from the culture and systems we exist in.

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INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS)

As we consider our internal world, we have various “parts” of ourselves operating within our larger system. Protective parts, wounded parts, and an authentic core Self, which all interact with each other in the greater system. Parts manifest in a variety of ways, but all have a common motive - to keep us in connection to something or someone, and to avoid what we often think of as negative feelings (pain, hurt, embarrassment, fear, sadness, etc.). Ideally, though, a person will lead interactions with Self - the curious, compassionate, connected, confident, calm, creative, clear, and courageous center that exists within all of us, but is frequently masked by the different parts.

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I conceptualize IFS as the intrapersonal, or inward facing, component of RCT and move fluidly within both in session. Due to the relational and connection/attachment-based focus, my attention is often turned toward exploring relationships, family of origin, systems of power, and the messages that were received and reinforced throughout development. I use this information to help clients identify patterns, bring greater awareness and understanding to behaviors, thoughts, and emotions, and to begin to make changes from an authentic and centered space.

2011 - MS Professional Counseling | Texas State University

2015 - PhD Counselor Education & Supervision | University of Texas at San Antonio

AR License #P1702241