My Approach
I offer compassion, collaboration, and creativity in our sessions together.
It is important that you feel heard, accepted, and understood as we find gentle ways to approach the challenges you’re facing.
I offer a warm and welcoming space where relief is possible, and where you can share anything without judgment.
Although it might sound intimidating to speak honestly about difficulties with a new person, I’m here to make challenging topics easier to talk about. Developing a comfortable rapport and building trust create the foundation for the course we chart together.
In the early few sessions with a new client, I often have lots of ideas about what could be helpful, but I don’t impose a cookie cutter approach or rely on simplistic advice. Successful therapy strategies take into account each client’s unique temperament and personality, learning style, preferences, strengths, and values. It’s fun and creative for me to offer a variety of options and pursue the ones that you are drawn to!
I take a holistic view that acknowledges wisdom from multiple theories and practical approaches. In general, most people can benefit from improving lots of aspects of their lives (healthier thinking, better regulated emotions, clearer and kinder self-expression, greater self-compassion, healthy accountability, improved relational boundaries, healthier physical choices, living in greater alignment with values and spiritual beliefs, etc.). Yet the focus, priorities, and ways we address those are tailored just for you.
Therapy involves a unique and special kind of relationship. Like a close friend, a therapist offers warmth, caring, and empathy. Yet therapy is more than just talking about your problems with someone who cares. A therapist listens and responds differently than a friend: therapy is just for you, and your growth and development is the focus. As a therapist, I offer supportive questions, insights, and observations to help you see yourself and your life more clearly. I also work to increase your readiness and confidence to act in news ways (toward your goals) that work for you.
In session, we can often address your suffering about the particular problem weighing on you, while also growing your awareness, abilities, and self-trust to handle whatever comes your way in the future.Therapy is the gift that keeps on giving!
Being a skilled therapist requires keen attention, robust emotional energy, and an open mind. I am deeply dedicated to my own personal and professional growth so that I can be fully present for you.
A little more about me personally: I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to learning! I am energized by psychology training and continued education, and am drawn to books, workshops, conversations and experiences about living a balanced and meaningful life.
Additionally, I’m a lifelong Michigander who grew up in small town. I’ve spent time living away from my home state, including stints in France, San Francisco, and Indiana, but ultimately chose Traverse City as my home, and established my psychology practice here in 2004.
Education
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
Western Michigan University (2004)
I am a licensed psychologist in the state of Michigan, and have been working as a psychologist in independent practice in Traverse City for more than twenty years.
I earned a B.A. from Kalamazoo College in 1996. I dropped English as a major when I realized that I just wanted to take psychology and sociology classes! My study abroad in France was instrumental to my personal awareness and understanding of different cultures and worldviews. For three years as an undergraduate, I served as a resident assistant; in that role, one student development training in particular (hearing gay and lesbian peers share their coming out stories, and the joys and challenges of living authentically) sparked my journey to be a visible ally for LGBT people. I later became a volunteer ally speaker on LGB/Ally Speaker’s Panels at WMU in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. During this period, queer student organizations weren’t yet common or popular in high schools and colleges, nor did social media exist yet as a place for minority voices to be shared. Being in person in groups (classrooms, student organizations) hearing dozens of coming out stories in this structured way, I witnessed the power of storytelling to to spark understanding and compassion.
Kalamazoo was my home for 10 years as I continued my graduate education to earn my M.A. (1998) and Ph.D. (2004) in Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University (WMU). I remember the combination of fear and thrill of beginning to put knowledge into practice with clients across various supervised practicum and internship roles.
My practical training included working at Borgess Hospital’s Partial Hospitalization Program as a part of their multidisciplinary team. My role involved providing psychological education and skill building (stress management, assertiveness training) as well as offering individual and group therapy to adults in the community who could benefit from short term intensive services. I spent three years working exclusively with college students at WMU (primarily offering and individual therapy, and co-facilitation of sexual assault survivors group) and then Ball State University, where I specialized in LGB issues, offered individual therapy, and served on two outreach teams (Diversity and Sexual Assault Prevention).
As I accrued experience working with various adult populations across different settings, I felt more and more grateful to have found a professional calling that allowed me to be part of people’s lives and transformations in a direct, personal, and meaningful way. More and more, my relationship with clients solidified my trust in the power of the therapeutic connection.
In 2003, I moved to northern Michigan eager to enjoy all that nature and the four seasons have to offer. While initially growing my psychology practice, I served as an adjunct instructor at the NMC University Center. I taught Research Statistics for Grand Valley State University’s Masters in Social Work program, and was an instructor for two courses, Group Dynamics and Career Development, for Western Michigan University’s M.A. in Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology.