I am pleased that you are considering me as your counselor. The following is designed to inform you about the counseling process and ensure that you understand our professional relationship.
Qualifications: I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN in 1974 and years later went on to receive a Masters Degree in Educational Counseling and Psychology with a concentration in Community Agency Counseling from the University of Tennessee in 1995. A component of the Masters coursework included Life Transitioning coursework at the University of San Francisco in 1989. The graduate program I completed is accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). I furthered my education with Doctoral coursework at both Ohio University in 1995-96 and at North Carolina State University in 1999. I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor (license #5491) in North Carolina since 12/8/2006. North Carolina law changed the name of Licensed Professional Counselor to Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor on January 1, 2020. I have been working as a licensed professional for 14 years. Prior to my work as a counselor, I worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer, a Group Home Supervisor, a DSS Social Worker, a Special Education Teacher and as a Mental Health Assistant in psychiatric hospital settings.
Counseling Background: I currently provide services to children over age 11, adolescents, adults, and families. I work with individuals on a variety of issues including emotional, spiritual, behavioral, relationships, depression, anxiety, and recovery from difficult life situations such as divorce, or those simply wanting to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and to be able to more fully engage in life with purpose. My specialties include dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and those dealing with chronic mental illness. My work in counseling is a collaborative process where the clients are respected as the experts in their life’s dilemma and are looking to develop a relationship that will provide an access to their inner resources for resilience and growth. I utilize my experience in the western approaches of Transactional Analysis, Gestalt Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with underlying eastern approaches of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Meditation and Mindfulness Based Therapies to instill an attitude of curious inquiry and self-acceptance effective for personal growth.