Therapeutic Approach
It’s an honor and privilege to work with clients during, what might be, some of their most difficult moments in life. I find it rewarding to hear each client’s story, help clients embrace their strengths, recognize personal resiliency factors, and feel more empowered. My approach is collaborative and integrative; I view the client as being in the driver’s seat and I’m in the passenger seat helping guide the journey. Throughout therapy, I strive to create an affirming environment and atmosphere of safety, trust, and acceptance so clients can process their feelings and experiences, understand patterns contributing to emotional suffering, and learn adaptive ways to cope. I don’t take a “one size fits all” approach in therapy and I offer an integrative approach tailored to each client’s individual needs. It’s essential for me to understand client’s worldview and cultural identities. Furthermore, I believe that our early experiences in life, and relationships with people impact how we view ourselves and others; as such, I believe that a safe, supportive, and caring therapeutic relationship is an integral part of the change process.
Clinical Areas of Interest
I consider myself to be a generalist and have 11 years of experience working with and treating a variety of concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety). I am most passionate about and specialize in working with victims and survivors of sexual assault and interpersonal violence, along with other types of trauma. Moreover, I have completed the basic training for Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), which is a specialized treatment for trauma recovery (among other concerns). Additionally, I am passionate about family-of-origin concerns, relationship issues, social justice issues, and identity development and identity-related concerns. Specifically, I have had a lot of experience working with LGB, transgender, and gender non-conforming clients.
Professional Biography
I am a Licensed Psychologist and Health Service Provider in the state of Iowa. I earned a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Auburn University (APA-accredited program). I completed an APA-accredited doctoral internship at University of Missouri-Columbia’s Counseling Center. I earned a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Western Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Western Illinois University. I was born and raised in Southeast Iowa, and returned to Iowa after graduate school to become a Staff Psychologist at Iowa State University Student Counseling Services (SCS) in 2014. In April 2017, I co-founded Ames Psychological Wellness Center (APWC) with Dr. Nichole Olson. I worked part-time at APWC until I left my position at SCS in August 2019 in order to pursue full-time private practice. While working at SCS, I held several positions, including: Interim Assistant Director, Training Director, Trauma Prevention & Recovery Coordinator, and Outreach Coordinator.
Personal Hobbies
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I am an avid sports fan, and enjoy watching and attending sporting events. Fall is my favorite time of year, as I love the fall foliage and it is football season. I love to bake goodies and decorate cakes, and consider it to be a “stress reliever.” I enjoy trying and making new recipes, especially for potlucks. Additionally, I enjoy traveling to new places, trying new restaurants, and crafting.