What would you consider your main specialty?
I specialize in evaluating and diagnosing mental health disorders with the purpose of prevention and treatment to promote mental health awareness which can not only lead to symptom reduction but also fine-tune ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. I collaborate with clients to address issues such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation/feelings, post-traumatic stress, trauma, identity exploration, executive functioning, self-esteem, communication, and emotional dysregulation.
Why did you chose that specialty?
In a world that desperately needs what we do - where healthy and sustainable emotional connections are more important than ever and where we can only attain whole health for ourselves and our society when we bridge our behavioral health to our mental health. My decision to choose this specialty derived from a strong desire to help others, a passion for excellence and commitment to inspire others each day towards strength, wholeness, and healing from all walks of life. As a Mental Health Therapist, I help guide client(s)toward enhanced understanding where they learn to thrive while simultaneously achieving optimal health and wellness.
What are some signs/symptoms that would indicate a person should see a counselor?
Most of us experience times when we need help dealing with problems or issues that cause emotional distress. If you are having a problem that is making you feel overwhelmed and/or interfering with normal activities of daily life, you may benefit from the assistance of an experienced, trained professional. Some common signs/symptoms that may arise include:
Feeling unhappy, sad, or irritable most of the time,
Feeling worried, nervous, overwhelmed, and/or anxious most of the time,
Having emotional struggles that are interfering with your ability to engage in healthy lifestyle habits (eating, sleeping, exercise) and/or your ability to function at work, at school, at home, or in relationships,
Having thoughts of harming yourself and/or others
Struggling with substance abuse or other addictions – or struggling with a loved one who has an addiction,
Experiencing a major life event/change or loss. Examples would be illness or death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or a job change,
Having an eating disorder and/or struggling with body image,
Experienced abuse at any time in your life and are struggling with how that affects you now,
Having difficulty communicating effectively with people in your life,
Having difficulty with your own sexual orientation or the sexual orientation of someone in your life.
I am not a Christian, so why should I see a Christian counselor?
While there’s little hesitation for someone to schedule an appointment with a family physician when they’re under the weather, I realize there seems to be pause for most people before considering talking with a mental health therapist, let alone one who identifies as a Christian. Despite distortions or differences in beliefs, simply put, we must be able to accept our clients where theyare and take them wheretheydesire to go — not based on our own agendas but on theirs. (There are limitations to this, of course, such as in the case of suicidal ideations.) As a Christian therapist, I am diligently working hard to empathize with my client’s pain while also helping him or her work on their desired outcome of changing his or her thoughts and feelings about a particular situation as they grapple and struggle to accept what they cannot change.
What do you like to do in your off time?
In my free time, I enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities, such as reading, attending live music events and spoken word, travel, drinking tea, and baking.