Services
About My Clients
My heart work is helping people feel secure, especially humans with complex trauma. I help those experiencing relational difficulties & those who experience pain from losses, betrayal, and religious trauma. Working primarily with married/unmarried couples of all types, adult individuals, & families, I’m a Certified Emotion-Focused Therapist, Gottman trained, AEDP clinician, a Certified Facilitator with the Fair Play Institute. My clients appreciate compassionate directness.
My Background and Approach
My work is in attachment-based psychotherapy therapies and neuroscience. I hold a Certificate in Interpersonal Neurobiology from Portland State University, and I also provide EMDR, sand tray therapy, and I have a Psychiatric Service Dog, Rontu, who assists me! In the work of death and dying, I'm a certified End-of-Life Doula for the terminally ill. I completed a masters-level internship at Solace House, a grief counseling center. In foster/adoption work, I'm a TBRI Educator and Trainer from the TCU Institute for Child Development and work with families who have adopted locally and from over 25 countries. I've lived in urban KC for 20+ years with my husband, 4 children, 3 dogs, 3 cats, 1 bearded dragon, and a flock of backyard chickens! I provide coaching nationally to all states and internationally. I'm a Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in both MO and KS, Nationally Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and KS board-approved clinical supervisor.
My Personal Beliefs and Interests
I believe in providing relentless empathy and that the human brain will move toward health and resilience when positioned in a safe context. That is what therapy is for: it's at least one relationship that is safe enough, boundaried enough, gently challenging to find more safety within oneself and within other relationships outside of therapy. I work with clients who struggle with complex or chronic feelings of loss, isolation, fear, feeling trapped or stuck, and feelings of shame, guilt, self-doubt. Clients who enjoy working with me are usually ready to be slowly challenged and encouraged to break out of old patterns of thinking, while also "safe and warm" while they figure out what they need and want at the core. I believe all humans are intrinsically good, and we all need to feel enjoyed by others. Being part of my clients' lives brings me joy, and I love my work. I also enjoy volunteering in a secular, educational nonprofit for non-traditionally schooling families.