Cancer Therapists in Pocono Lake, PA

At times, we all face trauma,crisis and challenges that influence our relationships with family and significant others. Many times these challenges, trauma or crisis leave profound emotional scars and pain that affect our performance and ability to cope and to function in a more healthy and productive way. I have good listening skills and a good sense of humor, which make my clients feel relaxed and comfortable.

Accepting new clients! I help people overcome difficulty and use it to grow and pursue a life of meaning and purpose. Sometimes we start by treating stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, career, or LGBTQ+ and other identity issues, and over time turn to deeper issues about the life you want to create, your identity, and your values. I’m a humanistic counselor, which means I’ll never tell you what to do and I’ll always empower you to make the choice that’s best for you. I use a collaborative, gentle approach that helps you connect with your intuitive sense of self and your intrinsic motivation to grow and do difficult things.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."- John Watson..... I am humbled & honored to have over 30 years experience working with clients of all ages & stages to lead more authentic, joyful, & balanced lives. I am an integrative, attachment focused & trauma-informed therapist who is inspired by theories grounded in humanistic, mindfulness, family systems, Imago, & client-centered philosophies. I enjoy working with a wide range of issues & backgrounds found in the human experience including LGBTQ+. We are all seeking & needing comfort & joy, kindness, acceptance and LOVE for ourselves, others, & the world.

Do you find it hard to sleep at night because thoughts race through your head? Have you been feeling down, not like the old you? Perhaps you are finding it tough to deal with your boss, co-workers or your loved ones. Whatever difficulties and distress you may be facing, you have just taken the first steps towards improving your life. By working together, you & I can develop a collaborative relationship full of warmth & lacking in judgment. We will develop an environment of safety & trust to foster your growth & experience of more fulfilling connections.

Life can be challenging at times, and therapy should be a place where you feel safe to express these challenges. You deserve a supportive environment to feel heard and understood.

As a cognitive behavioral therapist I aim to listen without judgment and support you living the life you want. Whether this means feeling calmer, sleeping better, taking better care of yourself, feeling happier, or feeling less stressed, I'm here to help. These days there are many treatments available in mental health care. It's important to consider what works and also what's best for you. We will work together on a plan for your wellness that is supported by science and feels right for you.

So often we may find ourselves caught in patterns of busying, avoiding, and distraction only to find ourselves anxious, down, exhausted, and stuck. Individual therapy is a place to pause, lean in, and listen. It is carved out time for yourself where you can explore values and aspirations, notice habitual patterns, create space for healing, design new thoughts and attitudes, cultivate self-compassion, and access your own wisdom and strength that resides in you. I use a multifaceted approach that promotes a sense of curiosity and self-awareness. I draw from cognitive-behavioral, trauma-informed, and body and mindfulness-based models.

If you are willing to work, your life can change. There is hope. I have worked with people on a variety of issues: depression, anxiety, trauma, cancer , panic, grief and other issues. I provide in home services for those clients diagnosed with cancer who live in a 5-mile radius of my office in Collegeville. I also offer sessions through SimplePractice which is a HIPPA compliant website for doctors.

Are you feeling sad, stressed, lonely, or overwhelmed? Are you facing a challenging life transition? If you are looking for a straightforward, solution-oriented approach within a holistic framework, we might be a good fit! I understand the pain and confusion that life transitions, grief and loss, illnesses, and other stressors create. I also believe firmly, and with good reason, that growth and happiness is always possible, no matter how difficult the path. I am fully committed to the mind-body-spirit connection and ground these principles in trusted evidence-based techniques.

Loss of someone or something important to you, or a scary diagnosis often come with a snowball of other losses/changes. Dreams and goals may feel shattered. Old routines get interrupted. Life feels meaningless or has taken on a different meaning. You may not relate as well to friends and family. You might wonder “who am I now?," or feel you are only seen as a “widow(er),” “bereaved parent,” “ cancer patient,” “unemployed," or “someone who is not fun to be around anymore”. These losses bring heartache—and you need someone who will listen, validate, and understand your experience.

Life can be very challenging, and I am optimistic that each client is capable of meeting that challenge. I am compassionate and an attentive listener. My style is interactive in helping each client or couple create a vision of the life they want to live. We work as a team to achieve your goals for a happier more fulfilled life.

I combine active listening with creative response as a Gestalt therapist. I do brief and long term work depending on what the client needs. I am seasoned and I care about my clients' well-being.

My goal in working with you is to hear your story, patiently help you make sense of your confusion and pain, help you create unique coping skills, and build a preferred life worth living. Years ago I worked with cancer patients and their families at a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in South Carolina. Their situations were varied and complex, their physical and emotional pain was deep. As they talked about their pain, hopelessness, worthlessness, loss, anxiety, and uncertainty, together we made sense of their confusion. Likewise, as we work together, I will help you and your challenges in the same caring and skillful way.

Areas of specialty include: developing communication strategies focused on improving relationships in step-families/blended families, and for individuals and couples. Additional areas of treatment include: counseling divorce/separation and break-up issues, infidelity, restructuring life following a loss, catastrophic event, managing cancer survivorship and developing coping strategies following life transitions (loss of job/graduating from college), supportive treatment for infertility struggles, as well as, treatment for anxiety, depression, and stress. My extensive nursing background, coupled with my Masters Degree therapy training and experience, have given me a deeper depth of empathy and understanding of life's challenges.

Have you gone through a recent crisis—a cancer diagnosis, loss of a loved one—that has turned your world up-side-down? Are you having problems turning your mind off at night? Does one worry lead to another? Do you automatically think the worst thing is going to happen? Are you having trouble getting out of bed in the morning, feeling stuck, or lacking motivation? I can help. My patients tell me they have made their best progress by working with me. I believe we all have the ability to move through difficulties, cope with change and be better and stronger. I believe you can too if you have the right help.

I firmly believe that you deserve to live your life to its fullest, and I am eager to help you make strides towards what you want most. A lot of my patients feel overwhelmed by unexpected life events and fear about what happens next; feel ill-equipped to cope with pressing anxiety; or long to have more depth and connection in their relationships. It is possible to feel better. Therapy allows you to explore with curiosity previously avoided parts of your thoughts, feelings and past in a nonjudgmental way. A trusting relationship with your therapist can help you understand more about yourself and what you can do to feel better.

I am an experienced counselor with over 15 years of experience in the mental health, co-occurring disorders, substance abuse treatment, trauma, grief, and oncology counseling fields. I have experience providing counseling services to a variety of individuals and groups, including adolescents and adults struggling with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, unresolved grief, trauma, and stressor-related disorders and more recently cancer survivors and their loved ones.