I have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology from Texas A&M University (2000) and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Sam Houston State University (2002). I have over 22 years experience in direct mental health services, in private practice as a sole practitioner as well as in group practice settings. A portion of that experience includes over 12 years in the public school system as a former school counselor at every level. In addition to being a Licensed Professional Counselor, I am also a designated Supervisor for LPCs working on their licensure (LPC-S).
I have experience working with many populations, but my focus is children, adolescents, women, couples and families.
I am passionate about working with families, including coaching parents on setting up structure, limits, routine, and expectations to increase happiness and function in the home. These practices spill over to increased positive mental health in all members of the family.
Working with couples who are engaged is also a passion of mine as I firmly believe that setting a proper foundation for a successful marriage and partnership is absolutely essential to creating healthy, functional families. I utilize the Prepare/Enrich Curriculum for pre-marital counseling.
It is imperative for you to understand who is sitting across from you during your therapy sessions. The Theory I most closely identify with is Attachment; although, I draw from many theoretical orientations, focusing on treating the whole person (looking not only at relationships/behaviors but also at diet, sleep, exercise, medications, etc.).
I also believe that much discomfort and anxiety arises from irrational thoughts/beliefs in response to events in our lives, which is rooted in Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy.
My favorite approach to therapy is Solution Focused Brief Therapy, which I have had additional post-graduate training in. This approach allows the client to live in the present, focusing on what is working and finding strengths and successes in the everyday and building on those.
What is quite possibly the most important core belief I hold is that I am a Christ follower. Although my beliefs will not come up in our counseling relationship unless the client desires them to do so, it is important for my clients to understand that this is my world-view and who I am as a person.
Although being married and or having children is not required to counsel engaged/married couples/parents/families, nor does it guarantee that you are GOOD at those things, I do have a lot of experience as a wife and mother, and although we are no where NEAR "perfect," (perfect doesn't exist this side of Heaven), we love each other very much and work hard to hold our family closely together.
My husband Charlie and I met at Texas A&M in 1997 and were married in 2002. We had our first son in 2004, followed by a miscarriage of a baby girl, then the birth of our 2nd son in 2008, and then finally our 3rd son in 2010.
I have lived through and also professionally witnessed the effects of technology and devices on the entire family system, and especially on children. I work very hard in my own personal life to balance these things for my family, and offer solid advice based on years of experience and professional research performed by others, to help families balance technology and relationship.
I am here to say there is NO such thing as a perfect family, a perfect marriage, or a perfect parent, but I use my vast experience to help families work toward a functional and healthy life balance, and we are a testament that loving each other well can get a couple and their family through many difficult events and seasons. I truly feel that at the core of our family's "success" is Jesus Christ, our Lord & Savior. Again, my belief system will never enter the professional counseling relationship unless the client invites that in on their own. I do pray for my clients, whether they ask for it or not.
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