Play Therapy in 98665

Through Personal Adjustment Counseling our clients focus on their strengths using a person centered approach. I have experience treating mental health issues with counseling for children, teens and adults. Sessions are available for individuals, couples, families and groups. I provide assistance for children with school related problems. In the area of Vocational Counseling I provide assessments to evaluate skills, personalities, abilities and interests to assist individuals to discover new career paths or adjusting to current career.

I have a strong foundation as a caring and supportive counselor and aim to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. I am an enthusiastic, diligent and motivated counselor dedicated to helping each client achieve success. While the work can be complicated, I have the empathy, active listening skills and adaptability required to understand and convey even complex needs. I tailor my communication to meet the needs of each client and to collaborate with external partners like housing services or emergency responders.

My approach to counseling is personalized and collaborative, and is based in Relational-Cultural Theory which takes into account the effects of abuse, discrimination and marginalization on mental health. I believe that all humans have the tendency to grow, heal, and develop their full potential. I work to gain an accurate, accepting, understanding of each client’s reality so that the therapeutic relationship provides a safe, nonjudgmental environment to explore his or her thoughts and feelings about difficult life issues, with the goal of resolving issues, gaining self-acceptance and building relationships.

Making the choice to trust and work with someone in a therapeutic setting can be one of the scariest, but most rewarding decisions a person can make. If you find yourself here, you may be considering a journey towards long-lasting and significant change. In each stage of life, there are unique challenges that can impact your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and physical health. Lack of support, encouragement, and community can make these challenges unbearable. My role is to utilize my training to provide unconditional positive regard, encouragement, and safety in overcoming barriers and discovering effective solutions, together.

Reflecting on my own counseling practice, I have discovered the overwhelming strength and healing power of human connectedness which is an essential cornerstone of my therapeutic counseling relationships. Life is a journey filled with both opportunities and challenges. When daily life and/or life transitions seem too overwhelming, the guidance and support provided from a trusted professional who is empathetic and objective can be informative, empowering, and restorative. I use cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic interventions to help clients discover how conscious and unconscious thoughts impact emotions and behaviors. In addition, I draw from a variety of counseling theories to meet each client's individual needs.

I have been a counselor for almost 19 years. I have worked in the addiction field and with couples and families helping them to resolve issues between couples and family members. I also have worked with people who have co-dependency issues, anxiety issues, post traumatic stress disorder, and depression. I am moved into my own private practice in June 2015. I am currently a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Chemical Dependency Proffessional, in Washington State and now am licensed in Kansas and have moved my practice to Kansas, but can continue to work with people in Washington State online.