Change, although inevitable, can be difficult and feel ruthless especially when life takes a turn you don't expect. We can start feeling lost, alone and out of touch with ourselves and those around us. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, students, parents, and store clerks- we will all experience stress on different levels. Stress does not play favorites. Life happens to
all of us! Each of us are vulnerable to the pain, grief and the uncertainty of the human condition. In this way, I believe we can each benefit from a safe and non-judgmental space that allows us to put our guard down and encourages us to find our own pace, be flexible and rest more fully into the process of simply being ourselves and listening to our own wounds. In this honesty and increased self-awareness we can let go to rediscover our full potential, reignite the creative spark that drives passion and resilience and learn to create a rich and meaningful life for ourselves and our communities. My background in psychology, the experiential arts and behavioral health brings a unique blend of professional experiences to my work as a community counselor and group facilitator. I am a graduate of The Ohio State University where I received my Bachelor's of Science in Psychology with a focus in creativity studies and psycho-biology. I have spent 8 years working at a comprehensive community-based mental health and recovery agency working first hand with children, adults and families affected by severe mental illness, emotional distress, and/or chemical dependency (2009-2017). This passion has fueled my further study into a graduate program at The University of Dayton; where I received my Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2015. My educational training was rooted in compassion, mindfulness and appreciating cultural differences and their influence on the counseling practice. I developed a broader contextual understanding of the holistic (mind, body, spirit) nature of the human experience. My approach is informed by current research and training in trauma, attachment theory, the contextual and behavioral sciences, neuroscience, and polyvagal theory. I have received 120 hours of post-graduate training in body-oriented trauma resolution therapy and I am currently working towards becoming a certified Somatic Experiencing Practitioner upon completion of the 3-year training program. (https://traumahealing.org)
I am currently a lead clinician at the Legacy Freedom Treatment Center in Columbus, OH. I help facilitate treatment groups and individual counseling for individuals, couples, and families in a setting that employs a holistic approach to mental health therapy and outpatient addiction and substance abuse treatment. We focus on building lasting relationships with our clients. Each person is different so we focus on what's going to work for you. I also have a private practice in Columbus, OH and offer professional counseling services for individuals, couples and families. I often work with people who are dealing with the difficulties of resolving trauma, whose symptoms often appear as depression and anxiety, addictions, eating disorders, chronic pain and illness, or self-destructive behaviors.
