Areas of Expertise
Psychotherapy with Adults
Everyone's path on the road of adulthood is different, and each of our paths involves places where we get stuck and need a fresh perspective on things. I work with many issues: depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder; stress, poor motivation, poor relationships, poor work satisfaction, grief & loss issues, changes, taking action, setting and reaching specific goals, building self esteem, increasing ones well being, and having the life you want. With over 20 years of experience in the field I am confident I can always help my clients find solutions to their problems.
Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents
Childhood and teen years are all about growth. But sometimes we all encounter stumbling blocks along the way. I work with a multitude of issues: depression, anxiety, stress, aggression, anger, oppositional behavior, impulsivity, ADHD, chronic illness, grief & loss issues, social anxiety, school refusal, adjustment difficulties (moving, new school, new sibling, family divorce), low self esteem, sibling relationship concerns, family conflict, poor motivation, school refusal, identity issues, eating disorder and body image issues. The goal of therapy from ages 2-21 are multifold, but often involves building self esteem, encouraging responsible behavior, increasing family communication, and supporting and improving parenting strategies to help both child/teen and their families.
Please note: Therapy with children, adolescents, and young adults typically includes parental support for higher efficacy.
Life Coaching with Teens and Adults
Life Coaching is about looking towards the best future possible and taking the steps needed to get there. Like a coach helping an athlete train to get the gold medal, we focus on the use of innovative tools to get you from good to extraordinary. Life coaching has its own techniques that can be incredibly powerful. I became interested in life coaching because I wanted new tools to have in my tool kit. I currently use life coaching techniques in my therapy sessions. There are definite similarities in traditional therapy and life coaching; but they are two different approaches with some overlap.
My Approach
The process in my therapy practice is a collaborative one. Both therapist and client work together. We work to identify strengths, and then build on those strengths. I operate from the fundamental belief that all individuals are perfect and whole as they are right now, and that therapy can serve as a tool for learning, and as a way to improve one's life.
My approach is rooted in Cognitive Behavioral therapy and Solution Based Therapy. I am here to help you find ways of thinking of things in new ways, and then altering you behavior based on those belief. It is a rewarding process that requires courage and patience on both the part of the client and myself. We focus on the problems the client is having and look for solutions that can bring relief.
In working with children and adolescents I maintain a balance between privacy and inclusion regarding to parents. Parents play an intrinsic part of the process and I strive to offer ideas and parenting tools, so that they can best parent the child or adolescent that they have. No two individuals are the same and so parenting can differ greatly depending on personality and temperament.
Education and Training
I graduated from Vassar College, with a double major in Sociology and Psychology. I then taught elementary school for HISD after graduation from college. Teaching led me to pursue a Masters Degree in Social Work from University of Houston, with a focus in clinical social work with children and families. I completed two internships: one as a school social worker for HISD, and one as an outpatient psychotherapist at Depelchin Children’s Center. In both settings I worked with children, adolescents, adults and families.
After graduating with my Masters Degree I worked in variety of settings. I worked as a psychotherapist at Cypress Creek Psychiatric Hospital, Sharpstown Hospital, Twelve Oaks Hospital and Park Plaza Hospital providing care to clients of varying ages and varying diagnoses. I spent 5 years at Texas Children’s Hospital, providing emotional support and crisis counseling to children, adolescents and their families. I worked with a variety of patients and families facing various medical problems including Cystic Fibrosis and Eating Disorders. I also gained experience working with victims of physical and sexual abuse.
During that time I was trained and certified in family mediation, through the University of Houston. I completed extensive training and became certified as a grief and bereavement counselor and volunteer at Bo’s Place, which offers a unique program that provides support to children and their families who have experienced the death of a family member, spouse/parent, child/sibling.
I then spent 17 years as an outpatient psychotherapist in private practice at the Woodlands Family Institute. My practice consisted of a wide range of clients with a variety of issues. I work with children, adolescents, adults, and families, on emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial issues. I have continued seeing patients in my personal private practice office since 2020. During my years in private practice, I have added additional tools to my repertoire, by being trained and certified through two different Life Coaching Programs, Martha Beck Inc, and The Life Coach School.