Therapeutic Approach

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I approach therapy through a lens that honors your whole experience—your relationships, your brain, and your body. I draw from systems theory (how our families, relationships, and communities shape us), neuroscience (how our brains adapt to our experiences), and somatic approaches (how our nervous system and body holds stress and trauma).

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Trauma isn’t limited to major events like combat or life-threatening situations. It can also occur when something feels overwhelming for our capacity at the time—emotionally, physically, or developmentally. Just like physical injuries, emotional and relational wounds can leave lasting imprints on how we see ourselves, relate to others, and move through the world. These experiences often shape patterns that can feel confusing or hard to change—but they also make sense in the context of what you’ve been through.

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I know that beginning this work takes courage. Healing often invites us to gently explore places we may have avoided, including fear, pain, or uncertainty. You don’t have to do that alone. My role is to walk alongside you—offering a steady, supportive presence as we make sense of your experiences and work toward meaningful, lasting change. Together, we can identify and shift the thoughts, beliefs, and patterns that may be keeping you feeling stuck, and help you move toward a greater sense of freedom, connection, and self-understanding.

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I have a special interest in working with individuals experiencing dissociation, including Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and value creating a safe, respectful space that supports internal cooperation and integration at a pace that feels manageable. I also enjoy working with couples who want to move beyond cycles of disconnection and build relationships that feel compassionate, secure, and deeply connected.

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I also believe in the power of this work personally. Like anyone, I have experienced life’s challenges and uncertainties, which deepens my respect for the courage it takes to seek support and engage in the therapeutic process.

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I work with adolescents and adults navigating relationship concerns, anxiety, depression, developmental and complex trauma, grief, life transitions, religious trauma, spirituality, PTSD, and experiences of sexual abuse.

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Background​

• Bachelors of Arts in Bible/Theology from Appalachian Bible College in 2001

• Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Friends University in 2008

• Trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

• Experience working in community mental health, child advocacy, and private practice settings. 

• Moved from Kansas to NWA with my husband and 3 children in 2022