Balance Counseling & Wellness
It’s OK not to be OK.
So, you’re considering counseling…maybe for the first time or maybe you’ve tried it off and on for years. Let me see if I can guess a few of your thoughts and questions: Is this going to work? Do I really want to tell my story (or tell it again) to a new counselor? What if they’re weird? What if they think I’m weird? Will they judge me? My trust issues make it hard to be vulnerable. Am I too broken to be fixed? I’ve had a bad experience with counseling and don’t know why this time would be different.
Does any of that sound familiar?
Well, let me just say I’ve had all those thoughts and questions at some point in my own therapeutic journey. That’s perfectly normal! I’m a therapist, but I’m also a client and I truly believe in the therapeutic process both professionally and personally.
The felt experience of being on your side of the couch is one of the greatest assets I bring to our counseling relationship. Education, training and experience are certainly important factors when selecting a counselor, but it’s just as important that you feel comfort, connection and trust during our time together.
A little about EFT
Humans are hardwired for connection and through that modeled experience in our sessions, you will learn how the relationships in your life (including with yourself) are impacted by your emotions and attachment style.
When you feel something, what is the story you tell yourself that makes that feeling make sense? How do you know that story is true and what might happen if it’s not? What you think informs how you feel which drives your actions. This process is the basis for Emotionally Focused Therapy and it applies across all types of relationships.
In addition to being emotion-based, my sessions are client-centered and solution-focused. I want you to leave feeling empowered to take charge of your own life and equipped with tools and strategies that you can immediately implement.
Will this work?
Yes, therapy works…if you work at it. You will always get 100% from me, but the personal benefit is going to be greatest when you fully commit to the process. Rapport and trust are critical in the therapeutic relationship so that you feel safe to be vulnerable with your feelings and emotions. You will never be judged. Don’t stress about feeling weird or thinking you’re broken in some way. The guilt and shame we carry often becomes a barrier to change. As you come to understand the moves you make and why you make them, growth will follow. I am honored to walk alongside you on your journey.
A Little About Me
I began working in the counseling field in 2000 after completing my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University and master’s in counseling from Sam Houston State University. I have enjoyed helping clients in a variety of settings including non-profits, hospitals, schools and private practice. My therapeutic approach is client-centered. In session you might hear me say, “you lead, I guide” meaning I share the tools and skills and you take action to employ them in your daily life. My approach is professional but approachable. I take this work very seriously, but myself, not so much. The last thing you want is a stuffy shrink that feels distant and judgmental. I’m also a client, and I know I don’t want that either! I have a very casual and laid-back approach with a healthy mix of trust, rapport, humor and challenge. I love this work and am passionate about helping people achieve their goals and improve their overall well-being. I’m a counselor but more importantly I’m a woman, wife and mom. I understand intimately that a life well-lived is a life rooted in quality relationships with yourself and others. My life revolves around family, friends, health and wellness, live music, sports, travel, dogs and home. I look forward to walking alongside you in your journey to well-being and balance.