About

I offer a calm, collaborative, and gentle but direct approach. I’m always expanding on my knowledge, and I value new approaches and modalities of therapy to advantage my clients in new developments in mental health care, multiple options of treatment, and self improvement. 

I believe that therapy should be tailored to each individual's needs; each person is unique and should be valued as such. I’m licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In my spare time I enjoy playing with my dogs, hiking, swimming, grilling, cooking, reading, gardening, exploring new nature sites, and listening to music (with a little singing and dancing to the music at times).

I treat the following and specialize in the bolded areas:

  • Anxiety

  • Adolescent Concerns

  • Attachment Issues

  • Attention and Learning Difficulties

  • Bipolar Disorder

  • Codependency

  • Depression and Other Mood Issues

  • Difficulty with Adjustment/Life Transitions

  • Domestic Violence

  • Grief and Loss

  • LGBTQA

  • OCD

  • Oppositional Behaviors

  • Parenting Support

  • Feeling lost/ Overwhelmed

  • Self-Esteem, Self-Confidence and/or Body Image Issues

  • Self-Injurious and/or Self-Destructive Behaviors

  • Social Struggles

  • Trauma/PTSD

  • Work and Career Issues

  • Trauma (chronic, childhood, generational, complex)

  • Anxiety (specific, social, panic)

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Personality disorders

  • Narcissistic abuse

  • Life transitions

  • Negative self talk stemming from past experiences

  • Suicide ideation/ Self Harm

Modalities

EMDR is a gentle, 8-phase treatment process that is evidence-informed approach designed to reduce the intensity of distressing memories without requiring you to fully relive or describe them in detail. EMDR therapy involves recalling distressing experiences while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements. This process aids in reprocessing traumatic memories, allowing your brain to integrate them in a way that reduces their emotional charge.

EMDR has been recognized for its effectiveness in treating:

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Anxiety and panic disorders

  • Depression

  • Grief and loss

  • Phobias

  • Performance anxiety

  • And other trauma-related conditions

Through EMDR therapy, clients often experience:

  • Diminished emotional distress associated with traumatic memories

  • Improved coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety

  • Enhanced self-esteem and self-worth

  • Resolution of negative beliefs about oneself

  • Greater emotional regulation and stability

  • A renewed sense of safety and empowerment

TF-CBT

  • Phase 1: Stabilization

    • Psychoeducation- trauma, effects, treatment process

    • Relaxation

    • Affect Modulation- Learning to identify, label and regulate emotions

    • Cognitive Coping- challenging negative thoughts and beliefs associated with trauma and replacing with positive alternatives

  • Phase 2: Trauma Narrative & Processing

    • Trauma Narrative- Re-telling the story with learning knowledge and skills implemented.

    • In Vivo Mastery- Gradually challenging in safe real-world setting

  • Phase 3: Integration & Consolidation

    • Conjoint parent and Child sessions-

    • Enhancing Safety

CBT

  • Goal orientated approach

  • Learning how thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors are interconnected and what impacts them.

  • Challenging and replacing negative beliefs with more realistic positive alternatives

  • Develop new skills thinking and coping to replace unhelpful patterns

  • Self-regulation and coping

ACT

  • 6 core process

    • Diffusion- loosening grip of unhelpful thoughts by looking at them as just thoughts rather than truths.

    • Acceptance- Experiencing unhelpful thoughts, emotions and sensations without trying to avoid, control or change them.

    • Present Moment- Using mindfulness to connect with here and now instead of past or future.

    • Self-As-Context- Establishing sense of self as an observer separate from one’s temporary thoughts, emotions, and sensations.

    • Values- exploring, identifying, and clarifying what is important and matters in your life to guide you

    • Committed Action- Take self-driven steps aligned with values identified

Attachment Focused Therapy

• Focused on improving connections and relationships

• Building self-worth and trust

• Exploring past experiences and others’ responses to situations.

• Building a safe and secure bond

Other forms of therapy include talk therapy, resolution therapy, play therapy, and strength-based therapy.

Certificates & Trainings:

  • Licensed in both MN and WI

  • Masters of Arts Social work

  • Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker 

  • MN board approved supervisor for non clinical and clinical LSW, LGSW, and LICSW

  • DC 0-5 (treating children 0-5 years of age)

  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) 

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) 

  • Certified Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (CNATC) 

  • Brainspotting