About Me
Personal Philosophy
I’ve personally floundered in the dangerous waters of loss, trauma and addiction, as have some of my loved ones. Time outdoors, forming a solid support network, and EMDR therapy, kept me afloat long enough to create a life worth staying sober for. While this experience alone has not made me an expert in addressing these issues with others, it has been the driving force behind my clinical training. When you find a peaceful life, you want others to to have that same option.
I’ve pursued years of clinical training, but my most robust learning experiences have come from my therapy clients and the therapists who seek my consultation services. From that work, I have learned:
- Each person is unique. There is no “one way” to live or recover from trauma or an addiction.
- People with histories of abuse, neglect and trauma—deserve a good life, a life they define on their own terms.
- Addictions are a deadly undertow; while the water might appear smooth on the surface, they are a constant, lethal pull that can keep good, creative people stagnant and has the power to eventually sink them.
- Breaking free from the old may require sifting through the flotsam and jetsam of the past—carefully collecting the good and leaving behind what is no longer necessary.
- Individual human beings are not their past, the past may be an influence, but it does not define anyone.
- Recovery is possible at any stage of life’s trip. It is a hero’s journey. It is a worthy journey. It starts by taking the first step and then staying on course.
What does this mean for the people I serve?
That I will approach my task at hand, be it—individual therapy, consultation or training—with passion, curiosity, hard work, partnership, hopefulness and solid ethics. My approach is person-centered, down to earth and grounded in evidence based clinical training.