Since 2003 I have worked in helping professions including massage therapy, childcare, and working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I have an AA in Studio Art, a BA in Psychology from UNCA in 2014, and I am currently working towards my MA at Appalachian State University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Marriage and Family Counseling and a certificate in Systemic Multicultural Counseling. I have completed my counseling practicum working with minority students through Wellness and Prevention Services and my projected graduation date is December 2017.
My educational and professional backgrounds support and inform my work as a counselor intern. I am interested in the body’s role in mental health, I enjoy working with clients from a diversity of backgrounds and abilities, I really like working with children and families, as well as using creativity and art to approach wellness and dis-ease. I have over 7 years of experience working with children both in a preschool setting and providing childcare for families in their homes which led me to focus on marriage and family counseling in my education. My research has focused on the use of evidence based practices for under-served populations such as individuals with developmental disabilities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
I work from a foundation of person-centered therapy, meaning that what we work on together in your sessions is personalized to best suit you and focused on your needs. I may use cognitive-behavioral therapy, expressive arts techniques, mindfulness, body awareness, or other approaches depending on what best suits you. I like to work from a strengths based perspective, seeing what in your life works for you and helping you to find ways to improve things in your life that aren’t working so well for you. Together we will create goals and I will support you as you work towards them.
I have worked with people from a wide range of backgrounds and I provide individual and group counseling to individuals, couples and families, youth, people of faith, people of all genders, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. I do not discriminate based on any identity, orientation, or other category.
My educational and professional backgrounds support and inform my work as a counselor intern. I am interested in the body’s role in mental health, I enjoy working with clients from a diversity of backgrounds and abilities, I really like working with children and families, as well as using creativity and art to approach wellness and dis-ease. I have over 7 years of experience working with children both in a preschool setting and providing childcare for families in their homes which led me to focus on marriage and family counseling in my education. My research has focused on the use of evidence based practices for under-served populations such as individuals with developmental disabilities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
I work from a foundation of person-centered therapy, meaning that what we work on together in your sessions is personalized to best suit you and focused on your needs. I may use cognitive-behavioral therapy, expressive arts techniques, mindfulness, body awareness, or other approaches depending on what best suits you. I like to work from a strengths based perspective, seeing what in your life works for you and helping you to find ways to improve things in your life that aren’t working so well for you. Together we will create goals and I will support you as you work towards them.
I have worked with people from a wide range of backgrounds and I provide individual and group counseling to individuals, couples and families, youth, people of faith, people of all genders, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. I do not discriminate based on any identity, orientation, or other category.