Family Therapy in Harrisburg, IL

Often times life can get tough. It can affect you, your marriage/relationship, your family, your children, your ability to parent, your self-worth, and more than anything, your ability to overcome any obstacles you are facing. I believe within each of us we have the strength to overcome the impossible. Out of pain comes something stronger, better, and the ability to thrive. I believe you already have the answers you seek and you contain the ability to change the worst circumstances. Sometimes our paths are hidden by everything weighing us down, which can make us feel overwhelmed. This can prevent us from seeing a way out...

You deserve to live a life that you love. There are many people who see therapy as something intrusive, unnecessary, or believe they will be judged. As a therapist, I believe that the connection built between the patient and therapist is the foundation that can lead you to the life that you want to live. My goal is to help you achieve your goals and see you become happier with the life you are currently living. Yes, sometimes therapy can bring up painful emotions, memories or events, but this pain can lead to growth and a better life. Life is too short to let the traumas of the past keep you from the life you were meant to live!

Unsure if your child's behavior is age appropriate? Is your adolescent having difficulties in academics or social connections? Are you struggling with adjusting to life changes or reflecting on past experiences that cause you to feel uneasy? Not sure how to work out differences between you and your partner or within your family? I am here to help your child play out any fears, worries, and past traumas, help your adolescent feel empowered, find solutions, and discover self identity, help adults navigate life transitions, and help couples/families explore conflict. Most of all, I focus on your needs to cultivate trust and safety.

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. I have a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL and a Master's Degree in Counselor Education/Community Counseling from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. I believe everyone can benefit from therapy. I practice a person-centered approach as I feel it is important to have a therapist you can connect with and who you feel listens to you. I utilize Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) with a mix of talking and skill-building to help each individual become the person they desire.

Rome wasn't built in a day" is often a quote I attach to therapy. Therapy is building a vision for yourself that you're happy with that will keep you going from day to day. Life is often seen as half empty or half full and it's my job to help you see that life has all sorts of unexpected positives. Throughout therapy some things might be considered difficult or challenging, but as your therapist it's my goal to make sure that we come out the other end better than the session prior.

As a therapist with over 40 years of experience, I believe the patient and therapist relationship is the foundation needed to provide a safe environment to help others develop healthier adaptive responses to life challenges.

Courage isn’t having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don’t feel like you have the strength. You need an immense amount of courage to stay the course and struggle even when you are almost ready to give up on life. I am here to listen, and walk beside you even when it feels like everything and maybe everyone is against you.

‘A speaker raises a glass of water and asks the audience, “How heavy do you think this glass of water is?” His answer: “It depends on how long you hold it. It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier.”’ Occasionally, we have to set our burdens down so that we are able to recharge and prepare ourselves to continue moving forward. I am deeply committed to providing pathways to support and to create the best environment possible for clients.

You know something is wrong, but you are not sure what it is, why it happened, or how to fix it. You think you probably need help, but it's hard to know where to start. You worry about being overmedicated or wasting your time. You want to figure out, once and for all, what is going on and how to take care of it. Does this sound familiar?

Parenting doesn't come with a manual; raising children and adolescents often raises many questions. Whether you have a child who isn't talking or you keep getting calls from school about concerns about their behavior - treatment can support you in your role of raising you child. As parents, sometimes you may want to pull your hair out or you feel like others don't understand. You may benefit from coming in and learning ways to manage stress, help your child with coping skills, and find the life you'd like to be living. Psychological services are designed around your well-being, you aren't crazy - life is just sometimes hard.

As a person-centered therapist with over fifteen years of experience in working with clients of all ages, I will meet you where you are at mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I will help you embark on a journey to greater peace, happiness, and self-satisfaction. Whether you're having difficulty coping with life's many stressors, are feeling down, lacking motivation, or struggling to define and set meaningful goals for your life, I'm here to provide you with empathic support and guidance as you face life's many challenges.

Sometimes in life we struggle with understanding why or how we ended up where we have. I believe that most of us attempt to manage the best we can given our current circumstances, struggles and challenges. Even then life can still seem insurmountable. I want you to know that change is possible, but doing it alone may feel like an added burden. I will work with you collaboratively to navigate the challenges at hand. My goal is to provide an unbiased, welcoming, and therapeutic environment.

Do you feel overwhelmed with some of your life circumstances? Have you experienced trauma: a divorce, job-loss, traumatic birth, difficult diagnosis, or domestic violence? Are you depressed, struggling with low self-esteem, lacking motivation, or needing help transitioning through life? I believe that every individual has what it takes to succeed and live a fulfilling life. Sometimes, we have to go through the darkest storms to see the brightest rainbows. Without the right tools and a safe non-judgmental space, it may feel impossible to weather the storm on your own.