Depression, Anxiety, Relationship issues,... Knowing how to manage life can be difficult and there are times when we feel stuck, unable to move forward. You may find yourself dealing with the same problems over and over. Knowing how to move through these issues takes work, a willingness to change, and an objective eye. My goal is to encourage you and help you get to the core of the issue, to help you identify your blind spots in order that you can move through your situation and make the changes necessary for you to grow and have the life you want.

I will help you get through your difficult life challenges so you can feel more confident, happy and whole. If you are struggling with your health, significant loss, or difficult circumstances within your family or work life, I can guide you, educate you, support you, connect you, and most importantly believe in you, so you can shift from hurt to hope, chaos to calm, and overwhelm to opportunity. I do this work because I truly believe each person is worthy to feel valued, heard, and understood and to have a fulfilling life that is meaningful and purposeful.

In 1993, I received my Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Purdue University. I graduated in 1997 with my Master of Social Work degree from Indiana University - Purdue University at Indianapolis. I have provided both inpatient and outpatient mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings including hospitals, community mental health centers, youth residential treatment facilities, group homes, and private practice. My areas of specialization include anxiety, depression, ADHD, marital & couples issues, family issues, parenting issues, child and adolescent behavior problems, and divorce/custody issues.

As a parent of a preteen and a teenage young adult, I understand the joys and the challenges of parenting in today's world. As a psychologist, I bring the knowledge and experience to assist when life becomes difficult.

A trusting therapeutic relationship is essential for treating a variety of psychological issues. I pride myself on utilizing my clinical training on a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques/interventions suitable for each individual I work with. The process of psychotherapy is to be consistent, patient and enlightening, whether the individual is in childhood or adulthood. Assisting an individual through the process of Self discovery is an honor and a privilege.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA) and has experience providing individual therapy and group therapy. I have provided services to a wide range of communities including outpatient, college, and clinical settings. I am skilled in working with individuals of all ages, with diverse backgrounds, and mental health abilities. I also conduct Dialectical Behavioral Therapy groups throughout the year.

In today's world, people often find ourselves going from one day to the next by going through the motions, leaving them feeling unfulfilled and overwhelmed. When we encounter life's hurdles, we have difficulty understanding why or how to deal with them. Choosing a therapist to help you navigate obstacles is a personal and courageous choice. The therapy process is where you and I come together to help you on a journey of relief from distress and increased personal growth and happiness. I strive to build authentic, trusting, and long-lasting relationships with my clients.

It is frustrating to feel stuck. It is painful to feel alone and misunderstood, even if you are in a committed relationship. It is exhausting to pretend like you have the confidence. The questions that you are asking yourself right now show that you have the strength needed to heal and to grow.

I assist children, adults, couples, and families in addressing the concerns that may be holding them back from the life they want. It is a fact that if our needs are not being met then we don't function well at home, school, work, or socially. I empower clients to meet their needs in healthy ways to live more fulfilling lives.

Not accepting new clients at this time! I believe that many people reach a point in their lives where they feel overwhelmed by life. This could be triggered by the loss of a job, a struggling marriage, family issues, or a personal battle. It can be hard to reach out for help. Sometimes it may feel easier just to withdraw or isolate, mask, or even ignore the problem. I've learned that while these may help temporarily, they don't make the problems go away. The best thing we can do for ourselves is to seek help and guidance through counseling.

My therapeutic focus is on helping clients identify and take responsibility for addressing issues ranging from minor life adjustment problems to serious mental health conditions based in brain chemistry deficits. Licensed as a clinical social worker since 1993, I have worked in the behavioral health field since 1979 in a variety of mental health and addictions-focused settings, including inpatient/hospital, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and educational programs. I also have an LMHC and an LCAC. I consider it an honor to work with clients courageous enough to ask for and accept help in meeting life's challenges.

I work with adolescents, adults and families with a variety of issues such as anxiety, mood disorders (including depression and bipolar), eating disorders and ADHD. Relationships are often effected by individual struggles, so a significant part of my practice is a focus on improving family dynamics, resolving conflict with peers (socially and in the work environment), and healthier intimate relationships. I have a gentle, nonjudgemental, but direct approach, and provide a confidential and respectful environment. This is crucial to effectively facilitate growth and meet your desired goals.

As someone who has directly dealt with personal trauma, depression, and anxiety in the past; I understand how hard it is to take the first step into therapy and beginning the walk to heal. My goal is to make the first step into this journey for you safe and comfortable. I approach my clients with empathy, sincerity and evidence based treatments that have proven to be beneficial for all clients. I have spent the last 13 years of my life dedicating my time to helping others in a medical and therapeutic capacity. During my time in the medical field, I often was called to speak with those who were suffering from various ailments.

We often find ourselves repeating patterns in our thoughts and our ways of relating that keep us stuck and unable to move forward in life, preventing us from fully experiencing all that we would like. Past relationships and early experiences impact our current perceptions of our self, others, and the world. Therapy provides an opportunity to gain insight and understanding, as well as a space to explore and work through these patterns and places in life in the hope of gaining a greater sense of freedom and aliveness.

This is probably the most frustration you've ever experienced. Things aren't working and you don't know what else to try. Let's work together to figure out what is going to help you reduce your stress, and meet your personal goals. I work with you, to figure out your goals and what will be best for you. This is going to be a team effort. I work with clients in the Carmel office, and online through a secure video conferencing connection if that fits your schedule best.

The goal of my practice is to provide an environment that is conducive to personal growth by offering you safety, comfort and authenticity. We all need someone to talk to at some point in life, in fact, that is what much of being human is all about - the desire to seek advice and guidance as we experience challenges, be they minor derailments or profound tragedies.

I have a belief that guides my approach in helping others: "We have to learn to live life on life's terms". Life gives us all kinds of experiences, hardships, but also successes, all of which make up how a person thinks, manages feelings, and relates to the world now. I believe that mental health symptoms and issues are a byproduct of how people try to make sense of or cope with what they have experienced, or are experiencing, on their own - and with the "tools" they have and how to use them. People intuitively know when they are not living their best life (on life's terms) and they seek help when new skills and "tools" are needed.

"Eudaimonia", a term associated with Aristotle, refers to a life in which a person flourishes and fulfills their true potential. Consistent with several views expressed within the field of Positive Psychology, I believe in focusing on an individual's strengths and virtues to help individuals and families thrive. In addition to this approach, my collaborative, non-pathologizing style utilizes the inherent virtues of growth and change within individuals and families, allowing for a deeper understanding of each client's unique processes and functions, setting the stage for clients to develop self-agency and become the experts in their family system.

I enjoy working with individuals of diverse age groups, from childhood to adulthood. My goal is to empower my clients to deal more effectively with their life circumstances by eliciting insight and equipping them with adaptive coping skills; while utilizing their faith to assist them in the healing process.When working with children, I work closely with the parents to facilitate a team effort in addressing the needs of the child and the family as a whole. I also work with couples to elicit healthier communication patterns, thus promoting couples' satisfaction in their marriage.