I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Counseling from Western Carolina University, and am set to graduate this May 2020. Upon graduating from undergrad, I began working as the Community Education and Marketing coordinator for a mental health advocacy organization in upstate New York. In my position, I worked to destigmatize mental health and mental health treatment; educate the community on local mental health resources; and advocate, at the state and local level, for community mental health needs and rights.
I also helped organize groups at the organization’s peer run clubhouse, which was open to anyone in the community struggling with mental health-related issues. This work helped me realize that while I believe advocacy work is essential, what I was truly passionate about was working with people on an interpersonal level. I loved building connection and watching people heal through building connection and fostering insight. This ultimately led me to pursue a degree in counseling.
Since starting school, I have completed an internship at Swain Recovery, a residential substance abuse treatment facility in Black Mountain, and am currently interning at Tapestry, a residential and outpatient eating disorder treatment facility. These placements have given me invaluable experience, and made me familiar with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). That being said, I have found that counseling is most effective when it is driven by the client. I believe that you are the expert on you; and thus, treatment should be structured and adjusted to meet your individual needs. I invite and encourage feedback from clients throughout the counseling process. I view counseling as an partnership that requires flexibility and commitment from both client and counselor.
While my experience is substance use and eating disorder specific, many of my clients have come from diverse backgrounds, have struggled with co-occurring diagnoses, or are processing major life-events.
I also helped organize groups at the organization’s peer run clubhouse, which was open to anyone in the community struggling with mental health-related issues. This work helped me realize that while I believe advocacy work is essential, what I was truly passionate about was working with people on an interpersonal level. I loved building connection and watching people heal through building connection and fostering insight. This ultimately led me to pursue a degree in counseling.
Since starting school, I have completed an internship at Swain Recovery, a residential substance abuse treatment facility in Black Mountain, and am currently interning at Tapestry, a residential and outpatient eating disorder treatment facility. These placements have given me invaluable experience, and made me familiar with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). That being said, I have found that counseling is most effective when it is driven by the client. I believe that you are the expert on you; and thus, treatment should be structured and adjusted to meet your individual needs. I invite and encourage feedback from clients throughout the counseling process. I view counseling as an partnership that requires flexibility and commitment from both client and counselor.
While my experience is substance use and eating disorder specific, many of my clients have come from diverse backgrounds, have struggled with co-occurring diagnoses, or are processing major life-events.