As your counselor, it would be my privilege to walk with you through the difficulties you are dealing with in life. I have seen the Lord do amazing work in individuals and relationships through Christian counseling – including my own – and I would be honored to witness His transforming work in your life as well. Nothing is impossible with God. With His help, along with the truths of His Word, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the effective tools available through counseling, you can experience the lasting change and healing you desire.
My Goal as a Christian Counselor
My goal as your counselor is to help you feel safe to talk about the deepest things going on in your life. I will work collaboratively with you to help you grow into your life roles with fulfillment and joy. My aim is to help you gain a foundation of adaptive tools to help you reach your greatest potential in all areas of your life.
What I Offer in Christian Counseling
I offer a welcoming, transparent space where you can feel comfortable sharing your story. I will spend our first session getting to know you and your background. I believe it’s so important to build trust and rapport, as no real work can be done unless there is trust and honesty. I will pace our sessions according to your needs and comfort level, seeking to reach your greatest potential without working on too much too soon.
My Approach to Christian Counseling
One major benefit to a Christian approach to counseling is that God is the Creator of the universe, including us! God has given us His instruction book, the Bible, which I believe supports so much of our psychological wellbeing. My faith informs my practice in everything I do. My foundational beliefs as a counselor align with the Word of God. I find so much affirmation in the Bible regarding our mental health and how to heal from trauma, pain, anxiety, depression, and so much more. To be able to search the Scriptures and the faith of Christianity with my clients alongside psychological counseling theories is the ultimate recipe for healing and living our most productive lives.
Qualifications & Experience
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. My internship was at the Stephen A. Cohen Clinic (Valley Cities) in Lakewood, WA. All of my clients were post-9/11 veterans, active duty, or family members of the two. I have been a youth mentor for almost 20 years and a deacon in my church for eight years, providing informal counseling to members of the church.
My Call to Christian Counseling
As a combat medic on the front lines in Iraq, I suffered from severe PTSD. After years of struggling, I found great recovery in my own counseling journey. I felt called to go back to school in an effort to help other veterans or people in general who may have had apprehensions to counseling. I’ve also worked with at-risk-youth for almost 20 years and have always had a genuine passion and calling to help that demographic.
More About Me/On a Personal Note
I love serving my family and church, spending time outdoors as much as possible, and staying active, whether it be rollerskating, bike riding, or downhill skiing.
Areas of Expertise/Specialties
- Abandonment and Neglect
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Coaching
- Counseling for Teens
- Couples Counseling
- Depression
- Family Counseling
- Grief and Loss
- Individual Counseling
- Infidelity and Affairs
- Marriage Counseling
- Online Counseling
- Personal Development
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Premarital Counseling
- Professional Development
- Relationship Issues
- Sexual Abuse
- Spiritual Development
- Trauma
- Weight Loss
- Women’s Issues
Trauma and PTSD
Trauma can have a lifetime effect on those who suffer from it. When an individual experiences trauma, their minds and bodies naturally respond by establishing maladaptive and survival coping mechanisms. My approach to trauma treatment is through Cognitive Behaviors and Cognitive Processing, where I come alongside my clients to help them process through their trauma in a safe and healthy way while helping them create more adaptive coping skills in the process.
Counseling for Teens and Adolescents
In the adolescent stage of life, there can be so much confusion, yet it is such an important time to establish fundamental adaptive coping skills for an individual’s future wellbeing. My passion for working with adolescents stems from my own struggles as a teenager and wishing I had an empathetic and understanding counselor I could have established a trusting relationship with to help me through those confusing years.
Marriage
Marriage is hard. Many of us come from broken relationships with lots of baggage. Basic healthy communication is rare and can make or break a good marriage. Having a third party to help work through relationship issues can change the whole trajectory of a marriage. Couples counseling does not only apply to those who think their marriage needs to be “fixed.” Instead, marriage therapy can be seen as “marriage enrichment” and can be hugely beneficial to all married couples.
Coaching and Spiritual Development
Healthy coaching and spiritual development are important in all areas of life, from nutrition, finances, parenting, relationships, and more. Growing up playing competitive sports and also being a varsity girls soccer coach has helped me realize how important it is for us to be coachable. As your counselor, I would be honored to help you fulfill your greatest God-given potential.
Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.
Availability (by office location):
- Federal Way – Thursday
- Kent – Wednesday and Friday
- Online (WA Only) – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals, couples, and families looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.
Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA), some insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.
Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction will be added for credit card payments.
