...specifically, understanding what makes a person who they are. As a young adult, I knew I wanted to work with people in some capacity, but I had no idea how! It wasn't until I was in my own personal counseling for the first time in undergrad that I considered working in the mental health field. 

 

Through that, I became curious about how my past life experiences had impacted me and how they would inform my future. I started to realize that it wasn't just me whose past experiences had shaped and formed them, I became aware that EVERY person I encountered had a unique story.

 

As a counselor I work to create a sense of safety for every client each time we meet. I have personally experienced the value that being validated and seen by someone else can give to a person. It is my goal to provide a space that allows for this validation and growth to occur. I believe that counseling is collaborative. You - the client - bring your expertise on your life experiences and feelings, and me - the counselor - will bring my expertise on the skills/techniques/interventions utilized.

 

I take an integrative approach to counseling, meaning that in session I pull from several different therapeutic modalities, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) and Brainspotting. All of these are evidenced-based practices, meaning that there is research that shows the benefits these therapeutic modalities can provide. ACT is a therapeutic modality that emphasizes the impact of emotions on our thoughts and behaviors. ACT highlights the importance of mindful observation of our thoughts/feelings/behaviors/values/beliefs without judgement. IFS helps us better understand ourselves as people who function within an inner "system" of parts, with the "Self" as the leader. IFS focuses on identifying inner wounds that can be healed by the Self. Brainspotting (BSP) is a type of mindful processing that helps people access, process, and overcome challenges such as trauma, difficult emotions, grief, anxiety and feeling stuck. BSP incorporates the mind, body, mindfulness tools, and eye position to assist in creating change. Through BSP, we can reprocess negative events, retrain emotional reactions, and regulate the brain.

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Taking an integrative approach allows me to tailor our sessions to your specific and unique needs. This also means that as you grow and change, counseling can grow and change with you! As your counselor I will encourage, challenge and be present with you every session.

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I am also a North Carolina native! I love exploring all that our beautiful state has to offer. Some of my favorite spots are Sunset Beach and the Moses Cone House and fire tower hiking trail. I love to spend my time outdoors, drinking coffee, trying new foods and playing with my cats. I enjoy reading and listening to audiobooks. I love all kinds of books, especially nonfiction memoirs and autobiographies written by celebrities, world leaders and activists. My guilty pleasure is reality TV and if it's a show on Bravo, I have probably watched it! As a person, I value connection to others, transparency, kindness, education, curiosity and creativity - all of which show up in my counseling practice. I look forward to connecting with you!