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. He
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 $80 per session (individual) or $90 per session (for two or more people). I offer a limited number of reduced rate options for couples and family counseling for those who are facing financial hardship.
re are some of my areas of focus:
- Couples Therapy
- Marital and Premarital Counseling
- Individual Counseling
- Trauma
- Adolescents and Teens
- Family Therapy
- Parenting
- Boundaries
- Anxiety
- Relationship Issues
- Mental Health Issues
- Supervised Visitation/Counseling
- Supervision of Therapists for License
Family
For 37 years, I have been married to my husband, Tim. We have four terrific children (plus loved spouses of our kids) now ages 21-31; and six wonderful grandchildren. We enjoy spending time together, walking our three dogs, riding our tandem, walking on the beach, music, studying, writing, and traveling. Our family is multi-cultural which has been a very rich experience and has helped me to understand the world differently.
Experience
For over 25 years, I was involved in Christian ministry and worked with children and adults before officially entering the Clinical and Christian Counseling field. Ten of these years, I served together with my husband in a collegiate setting, as a missionary to Guatemala, and in church ministry. Through this, I have come to believe that Jesus is our healer.
Since 2007, I have enjoyed sitting with people of any age (5 - 105) in private practice. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with the State of Washington and an approved Supervisor for Licensing.
Prior to becoming the Gateway Counseling Director and Counseling Pastor, I worked as a Clinical Supervisor at Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS) in Bremerton for nearly seven years where I earned the recognition of Mental Health Professional. I helped to start and lead the first Thinking About Smoking Cessation group at KMHS.
Education
I earned my Masters in Counseling Psychology from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA; and I earned my B.A. from Michigan State University in Religious Studies, with minors in Theater, Non-Formal Education, and Spanish. I regularly attend trainings to keep up-to-date with the latest research for therapeutic interventions.
Fees
My current fee for services is $80 per session for individuals; and $90 per session for couples and families. I offer a limited number of reduced-rate options for couples and family counseling for those who are facing financial hardship. 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.
Psychology Today
