Anxiety- I specialize in the treatment of anxiety. I believe it is helpful to understand that anxiety is the body's natural physical response to danger. By understanding what is happening physically in the body when our mind begins to worry we can focus on the thought patterns that are triggering the anxious reaction. You don't have to suffer with anxiety. I use a variety of treatment modalities in order to tailor anxiety treatment to each individual client. A few of the treatment methods I use are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) and Solution Focused Treatment. Click here for additional resources on anxiety.
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Depression- Depression can take on many different forms and looks and feels unique for every individual. Living with depression is exhausting and ordinary tasks take an extreme amount of energy to complete. There is hope. Depression is a treatable condition and I work with people to help them understand that depression is just one aspect of who they are as people. The more we work to look objectively at the part we call depression, the more we are able to understand how it is affecting our lives. Medications can be helpful in depression treatment and although I do not prescribe medication, I am supportive of medication in conjunction with therapy. Please talk with your doctor about medication treatment. Click here for additional resources on depression.
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Relationship issues- I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. I completed advanced training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. I strive to help couples understand the patterns in their relationship, both the ones that are working as well as the ones that aren't. When we feel like our partner is there for us things go well, but when they are not, we fall into unhealthy patterns which are toxic to the relationship. My relationship work with couples is to help gain clarity around the unhealthy patterns and to find patterns that work. Click here for additional resources on relationship issues.
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Self-Esteem issues- Learning to love ourselves and to feel comfortable in our own skin is perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspects of self-care. Many people confuse grandiosity or narcissism with developing self-esteem. Creating a healthy sense of our self is critical. When our self-esteem is low it affects all aspects of our lives. Healthy self-esteem is about believing we are worthy of love, affection, support and care. Helping people to be true to themselves is what finding clarity is all about. Click here for additional resources on self-esteem.
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LGBTQ+ Issues- Getting clear about who we are involves honestly looking at our sexual orientation and gender identity. While many people are clear about who they are internally, dealing with the stress and social stigma of claiming that socially often creates anxiety, depression, substance use issues or other mental health challenges. I strive to create a supportive environment to explore these issues and celebrate your authentic self. Click here for additional resources on LGBTQ+ issues.
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Trauma- I am certified by the International Association of Trauma Professionals as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Understanding how underlying trauma affects our day to day choices and decisions is important to healing. Often the effects of trauma are misunderstood as anxiety or depression or just a difficult personality. Trauma changes how a person sees the world and takes away their sense of safety. Trauma work is about integrating the fragmented parts left by the event or events so a sense of safety can be restored. Click here for additional resources on trauma.
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Addiction Recovery- I am a certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor. I worked for several years at the Lebanon Treatment Center, which is a methadone clinic. While there I grew to understand the strong hold that addiction has on a person. To me, addiction is how a person learned to cope with painful life experiences. Recovery from addiction is more than just abstinence. It is understanding what led to the use in the first place. I strive to help individuals and families understand what is under the addiction and help to heal the underlying issues to create long lasting recovery. Click here for additional resources on addiction recovery.
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Grief and loss- I am a certified grief educator through David Kessler's Grief Educator Program. Whether it is the loss of a loved one or the loss of a dream, grief is painful. We as a society do not deal well with grief. We are often told to get over it and move on. Before we can move on, we need to process the loss. Grief work is not about making the grief smaller, it is about us growing bigger than the pain. I am here to sit with you through the pain as you grow bigger. Click here for additional resources on grief and loss.
Clinical Supervision- I am able to provide supervision for candidates seeking licensure in Pennsylvania for professional counselor or marriage and family therapist. I am an accredited AAMFT approved supervisor.
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