About Therapy
Finding the right therapist shouldn’t be difficult or intimidating.
I have always felt finding a therapist is like dating, but the therapist doesn’t have to share.
I wish for the client to feel good or less scared. I try to make therapy easier, and our first session to be relaxed. There are no expectations from me.
I want you to feel empowered. Calling me and meeting is the first step to increasing your confidence.
It’s a power move to reach out for help – not an act of weakness or shame.
You can create the life you want… if you have the right tools.
I provide the right tools that are tangible for you, and they fit in your life to help foster change and create the life you want.
So, what do you need to do?
It depends. Not because it is too hard or too much. It depends because it is based on you – you are unique, the goals you have are unique, so the strategies to help you change your life should be specific to you.
I use metaphors related to your life and interest, so you deeply understand the context of what we’re trying to do. I incorporate Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy into our work together.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is “talk therapy” that manages problems by changing your thoughts, feelings, and actions. CBT focuses on practical, positive ways of working through issues by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) teaches you how to manage painful emotions and decrease conflict in relationships. DBT specifically focuses on four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
A little about my therapeutic approach…
I’m direct, supportive, and creative…
If you asked my current clients, they would say, “She doesn’t BS you, which creates trust and support that she wants the best for you.”
I show I care but say what most clients are too scared to say themselves. I have had countless examples where at the right time and within context, I say the biggest fear. I see the client exhale because now it is out there, and the sky didn’t fall, which means maybe everything will be okay. I say the hard thing, so my clients feel free not to be tied to it.
I am creative in the sense that I have found people shouldn’t fit into therapy. Therapy should fit into people’s lives. Every day I talk in metaphors. For example, with anxiety, I tell my sports lovers it is like being at the World Series or Superbowl when so much work goes into that last five seconds of a game. My music and art lovers talk about the process or perspective of the art and what creates a good work, which can be applied to their feelings and fears.
I also integrate humor, honesty, and faith-based practices in my counseling…
“If you are not laughing, you are crying” is something I have heard before – I think sometimes it’s true. So I create times of relief in a crappy moment for the client to have permission to laugh. Laughing and crying can happen simultaneously. Sitting in pain is important, and making the joke that brings my client to smile after saying the most painful thing brings balance. I think it helps them remember that emotion is temporary, so sometimes it’s good to move on for a minute.
Faith-based…
If you look at my diplomas, you will see that I went to Christian schools, and I am not ashamed of that. I need faith to sleep at night knowing that bad things happen, and I can’t fix it all or control it all. I learned that even more so through 2020. I don’t have to express anything about faith in session, but I can.
For my client, if they want to talk about their faith, whatever that means, I am okay with that. I want all walks of life to feel comfortable, and I don’t want anyone’s higher power and faith to be a negative or a blocking point. I want it to be another aspect or level we can talk about when needed.
About Me
Here’s why I became a therapist…
Because I’ve been in therapy, and I know the impact it can have on your life.
For me, therapy saved me from a life that I never wanted. I went to therapy when my parents divorced. My biggest thanks was having a therapist who listened to me and my feelings when that wasn’t happening in my life.
I felt seen. I wish there were a better way to express it, but being seen when you are not seen in your personal life, even for an hour a week, is huge.
My therapist helped me communicate my needs, and I use those skills to this day. My therapist empowered me and believed in me. That was the starting point for me to create the life I wanted and now have. The most challenging part is being vulnerable. I have been in therapy now for decades and know the stuff that gets to me. Still, it never gets easier to share or feel exposed, but it is worth it. I have benefited from vulnerability and accountability throughout my life, and it has created such a positive impact for me.
Education and experience…
I earned my titles as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) after earning my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Colorado Christian University and my master’s degree in Counseling from Denver Seminary.
My previous work experience includes both inpatient and outpatient programs at Porter Adventist and Denver Springs hospitals.
On a personal note…
I’m a Denver native and avid Broncos fan. I enjoy spending time in the mountains and nature.
My hours at home are usually spent with family and friends, often eating authentic Greek food from my mom’s family. I value connection and relationships, so I always try to spend as much time as possible with people I love and respect.
You’re ready for change.
Call me, and let’s get started: (720) 767-0038.
We can have a free 15-minute phone consultation. I want to help. I do not judge and am here to support you.
