I believe people need safe spaces to connect, be seen and heard. People seek counseling with hope for change and relief from distress. My goal is to be a present and active listener, reflecting strengths and alternatives within your story. For children, behavior or misbehavior maybe the most powerful or only means of communication. For children and families, I provide hands-on, creative approaches for expression that help people feel heard, seen, empowered and competent. I provide children with a variety of developmentally appropriate skill-based strategies and books for coping with trauma and life events. We practice and praise social emotional skills at every session as children respond better when taught specific skills and given lots of opportunities to practice with encouragement . I love to connect with families through play and art.
I utilize Child Centered Play Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to support children in expressing and guiding their healing journey. With Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, parents participate in therapy with their child while being coached and encouraged on specific strategies that build connection, positive communication, and behavior management skills that are then used outside of the therapy session at home.
I received a Masters of Counseling from Oregon State University and a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science in Family and Consumer Studies with a focus on Child Development from the University of Idaho. I started my career in Early Childhood, guiding best practice for childcare settings and participating in the "Feeding Young Children" research project at the University of Idaho. For many years, I enjoyed working as an elementary school counselor providing mental health services to school age children and supporting healthy mental health practices in schools. It was always my dream to have a dedicated Play Therapy and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Space for children ages 3-10 years. Children have deep felt experiences , that are best expressed through play rather than talk therapy. I feel honored to work with families and children through their journey of growth in this specific stage of life.
