Hello! Looking for a counselor to work with is a bit like putting together a puzzle – there are many pieces that must come together so that you feel comfortable.

Whatever situation you find yourself in, I hope for the opportunity to meet and work together. I want to know what’s going on in your life.

I understand that there are many challenging parts of life, some that lead you to reach out to a counselor.  Some pieces may have become too challenging or perhaps you’re in a situation of life, relationship(s), or with your career that isn’t improving despite your best efforts. Or maybe you simply want to improve an area of your life, and operate from the best place possible. Whatever your situation is, taking the first step to contact a counselor can be a life-changing decision. It can be the first of many important steps that move your life to a different, more comforting place.

I understand that we are all human and struggle; no one is exempt. Bad things happen to good people. Situations arise that are outside of our control. And no one is perfect. So the challenge before all of us is to work through the good and bad AND continually improve and create new chapters of life that produce comfort, resolution, peace, health, and purpose.

Sometimes the journey requires significant growth AND we must struggle to find those amazing diamonds in life sometimes buried under stress, expectation, past or present pain, and/or disappointment. Together in the counseling experience we can dig and explore your story, look honestly at what’s happening (or happened), and create a plan that removes any challenging blocks to your success.

It would be an honor to walk alongside you in this time, whatever situation you face. I offer a non-judgmental approach and together we can explore what you need from counseling. I’m interested in your life story, your current situation, and what you desire and imagine for your future. Life is a journey filled with many seasons, twists, and turns that we all walk through to get through. These seasons in life can be both amazing and/or life challenging and life devastating.

I treat clients of all backgrounds, age, color, disability, national origin, gender, race, religious affiliation, and sexual orientation with mutual regard, respect, and professionalism. I typically utilize CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) in most sessions and discuss EMDR as one approach for clients seeking trauma treatment. I am a trauma-informed therapist and incorporate education and current research into the framework of our sessions. Additionally, upon client request, I can provide faith-based counseling.

My Professional Background:

I am a seasoned LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and psychotherapist and the owner of Highlands Ranch Counseling and Coaching. I have been in the field since 1998, and maintain a Certified Professional Coaching (CPC) designation. I am a LEVEL II trained EMDR clinician and hold a professional certification from The EMDR Institute, www.emdr.com. I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and seasoned trauma-informed therapist. My background includes working with clients presenting with everyday life and relationship challenges to complex issues and challenges that impact and impair daily functioning.

As a graduate of the University of Texas in Social Work, followed by over 20 years of professional experience my diverse professional background includes working in private practice, healthcare settings, and serving the men and women in the United States Military and Armed Forces.

My career began at Baylor Medical Center in Texas, where I provided therapeutic services to patients in acute care including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Labor and Delivery, and Postpartum unit. Years later I returned to Colorado and worked in a home hospice and palliative care program with the Visiting Nurses Association. In this role, I provided counseling to terminally ill patients, caregivers, and survivors for several years. Concluding my final years in a healthcare setting, I was a counselor at one of the nation’s top fertility clinics, the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine. Years of experience in working in reproductive trauma and PTSD led me to author, “INFERTILITY and PTSD: The Uncharted Storm”. I have also served the United States Armed Forces with Logistics Health Incorporated, a company that continually meets the ongoing needs of our servicemen and women.

Education:

Metropolitan State University of Denver, 5/97, BSW

The University of Texas in Arlington, 12/98, MSW

License, Certifications & Awards:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist, LCSW (#993012)

National Certified Professional Coach, CPC (#2100)

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, CCTP (#146447)

Professional Memberships:

National Association of Social Workers, NASW

American Society for Reproductive Medicine, ASRM