Life is too short to live in an unhealthy way. Make the most of your life by becoming your best self. It could impact your family and the world. I would like to walk with you through this journey to wholeness and healing.
Areas of Focus
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Child/Pre-Teen/Adolescent Issues (ages 6 - 19)
- Women's Issues
- Trauma-Focused Issues (PTSD)
- Adoption
- Parenting
- Spirituality
- Stress
- Cultural-Focused Issues
- Grief/Loss Support
- Relationships
- Coping Skills
- Self Esteem Issues
Experience and Education
Before entering into the field of counseling, I worked for Teen Challenge in both the U.S. and as a missionary-in-training in Russia. During this time, I worked with adolescent girls at New Lifehouse Teen Challenge in Disney, OK, and then with training and mentoring adult staff in Russia, based out of St. Petersburg. When in Russia, I also studied the Russian language through language school and then through personal tutors. Later, I resigned from missions work and married my husband, Daniel. We then both became associate pastors for my husband’s father’s church on the Navajo reservation on the Arizona/Utah border, where we had the pleasure to serve for six years. I also did substitute teaching in one of the local high schools on the reservation.
Toward the end of studying for my master’s degree in Professional Counseling, I did my internship with Behavioral Health Resources (BHR), where I interned in the Child and Family Services department in the Olympia and Shelton offices. After graduation, I became one of BHR’s Child and Family Therapists in the Shelton office, working both in the office and in schools, providing therapy with children and adolescents from age 3-19, and later, taking on adult clients due to increased need within the agency. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate with Washington State, and am close to finishing my 3,000 postgraduate hours required for full licensure.
Education
I earned my Master's degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University in 2019; and I earned my B.S. from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, with specializations in Cross-Cultural Missions Ministries and Counseling Psychology. I am trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT+), in addition to Trauma-Focus (CBT+). I also attend various trainings in order to study and keep up-to-date with other essential therapeutic interventions that could also assist my practice.
Family
I have been happily married for nine years. We have been blessed with our beautiful four-year-old daughter, who keeps us very busy! We enjoy family time together, doing hobbies such as bicycling, hiking, gardening, singing, camping, cooking/baking/grilling, fishing, taking family trips to Arizona and Oklahoma, participating in our home group, and drinking coffee. My husband is a proud member of the Navajo Nation. Studying about Navajo culture and family traditions have been important in enriching our family heritage.
Fees
My current fee for services is $135 per session (individual) or $145 per session (for two or more people). I currently do not bill insurance companies but do work with several employee assistance programs. Most insurance companies reimburse my clients for my counseling services.
