Counseling from the Inside Out

The Art of Empathy

There is no drug, technique, or force of nature more powerful than empathy. The same goes for being truly heard and understood.

As a person-centered counselor, I believe in the value of the relationship we will build. Coming to therapy is the best thing you can do for yourself. There is a balm in counseling to make the wounded whole. I promise that I will be excited to see you, to help you feel at home, and to be completely non-judgmental. I am warm, caring, and quite funny.

Please call or email me for empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard.

Services

School/Behavior Issues

Depression and Anxiety

Childhood (and Adult) Grief and Loss

Faith Issues/Theology

Pet Loss Support

Why Choose Me?

There are hundreds and probably thousands of excellent therapists in your part of town. So why choose me? Because I am sitting in a kid’s chair in this picture? I think I am qualified because I have learned counseling from the inside out. I have an experiential understanding of therapy–from your perspective. I have been in your shoes and have learned in depth about many different counseling models–not only by book knowledge, but through participation in them. In addition, as a teacher, I counseled hundreds of children and their parents and as a pastor, I counseled children, families with behavior issues, people in faith crises, and people who were dying. I have presided over weddings and I have presided over funerals. I have experienced life deeply and in a variety of ways.

In terms of my specific areas of counseling services, why might I be the best counselor for you or your children?

For School/Behavior Issues

Let’s be honest: children and adolescents push our buttons and they seem to seek to step on our very last nerve. Through seventeen years of teaching, I have struggled with and dealt with a wide array of behavior issues. I have wondered whether I was too soft or too firm on discipline. I have had many moments of not knowing what to do. I have been exasperated by incessant behaviors. Through it all, I have learned about more nuances in behavior and learning issues than I was aware of even existing. It is not easy, but we can figure it out. So let’s spend less energy and experience less exasperation. For more detailed information about school and behavior issues, please click here.

For Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are real to me. I have lived with them for almost 30 years. While I have experienced much joy and stability through most of the last two decades of this period, I have been in the pit. I have had a panic attack. Through it all, I have worked with counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists–not only getting better but also learning about what works and what does not work. I can use my experiences to walk with you out of the pit. For more detailed information on depression and anxiety, please click here.

FOR GRIEF AND LOSS

I have loved and lost. As a child, I survived the death of my mother. I grieved a lot then and some grief was delayed, to be dealt with in adulthood. By processing my loss both in and out of therapy, I used and researched a wide array of approaches to grief–not just book knowledge, but also experiential knowledge. As a pastor, I counseled people on their death bed. Currently, I am involved in volunteering for Comfort Zone Camps, which are weekend camps for children who have lost a loved one. For more detailed information about my treatment of grief and loss, please click here.

For Faith Issues and Theology

Experiencing the death of a loved one can lead to a crisis of faith. As a child, I believed that if we had prayed harder that my mom would have lived. Through my time in therapy and my seven years of graduate theological education, I have processed these issues on deep levels. I would be happy to do the same with you. For more detailed information about my treatment of faith issues, please click here.

Pet Loss Support

Relationships with animals are usually more free from conflict than most human relationships, which is an element that can make the loss of a pet more difficult than most of us might expect. Another reason the death of a pet can be so hard is that a pet’s life is usually much shorter than the pet parent’s life.