My Services
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What makes my approach unique is that I understand no two people are the same. Collaboratively, we will tailor your therapy to meet your specific needs. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or any other issue, I will help you recognize underlying problems, fully realize your strengths, and adjust certain behaviors and thoughts to see things in a different, healthier way.
I am currently licensed as a clinical social worker in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Maine. We accept most insurance. Please check with your plan to determine if I am in your network; however, we can also assist. My practice specializes in treating individuals of all ages and backgrounds, and I offer comprehensive services dealing with the following:
01.
Holistic therapy is designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of emotional challenges that affect your unique behavioral health. Unlike traditional approaches that may focus primarily on managing symptoms, holistic therapy seeks to uncover and address the root causes of emotional struggles. It considers each person’s life circumstances and environmental influences to better understand how these factors impact behavioral well-being.
As with all therapy models, holistic behavioral therapy is collaborative. We will work collaboratively to design a personalized approach that aligns with your journey toward improved behavioral health.
This approach emphasizes understanding the whole person—examining behaviors, emotions, thoughts, and personal beliefs—to identify meaningful growth opportunities. Holistic therapy supports behavioral health goals by integrating therapeutic strategies that promote emotional and mental well-being.
At its core, holistic therapy empowers individuals to actively engage in their mental wellness by offering insight, tools, and support that lead to lasting change.
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The Safe and Sound Protocol Listening Therapy | Unyte is an evidence-based listening therapy designed to reduce sound sensitivities and improve auditory processing, behavioral state regulation, and social engagement behaviors through filtered music. As a practical application of Polyvagal Theory, the SSP acts as a non-invasive, acoustic vagal nerve stimulator, helping to retune the nervous system to better support connection, collaboration, and resilience.
The SSP involves listening to specially filtered music through headphones alongside a provider in person or remotely. Suitable for children and adults, the SSP has demonstrated benefits for individuals with trauma, anxiety, sensory processing differences and more.
Program Highlights of the SSP:
A 5-hour auditory intervention developed and patented by Dr. Stephen Porges, author of the Polyvagal Theory. Designed to reduce sound sensitivity and improve auditory processing and behavioral state regulation. Activates the client’s social engagement system, helping to accelerate and enhance therapeutic outcomes. Supports physiological state regulation, allowing for greater resilience.
Introduction to Polyvagal Theory:
Polyvagal Theory: the Science of Feeling Safe Developed by world-renowned researcher and Unyte’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Dr. Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory focuses on what is happening in the body and the nervous system, and explains how our sense of safety, danger or life-threat can impact our behavior. Understanding Polyvagal Theory gives us a scientific framework that can be applied through physiological, or “bottom-up” therapies, to help change and improve how we feel, think, and connect with others. Video: https://vimeo.com/unyte/ssp
03.
EFT Tapping, or Emotional Freedom Techniques Tapping, is a therapeutic method that involves gently tapping on specific points on the body while focusing on thoughts or emotions. It's rooted in the principles of Chinese medicine and acupuncture but doesn't involve the use of needles. Instead, it uses fingertip tapping to stimulate certain meridian points.
Here's a breakdown of how EFT Tapping works and its applications:
Technique: The technique involves tapping with the fingertips on specific meridian points on the body while focusing on a particular issue. These points include the top of the head, the eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, chin, collarbone, and under the arm.
Process: While tapping on these points, individuals focus on the negative emotions, thoughts, or memories they want to address. This process aims to acknowledge and accept these feelings while also working to release them.
Benefits: EFT Tapping is believed to help reduce stress, alleviate anxiety, manage pain, and address various emotional issues. It's considered a self-help technique that individuals can use on their own, although there are also practitioners who offer guided sessions.
Applications:
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Self-Care: Individuals can use EFT Tapping on their own as a tool for self-soothing and stress relief.
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Practitioner-Assisted EFT: Experienced practitioners offer one-on-one sessions to help clients address specific issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or chronic pain.
Training and Certification: While it's possible to learn the basics of EFT Tapping through resources like manuals or workshops, there are also certified trainers who offer more in-depth training. Additionally, there are directories of certified EFT practitioners for those seeking professional assistance.
Research and Science: While EFT Tapping is widely used and appreciated by many, its scientific basis is still a subject of ongoing research. There are studies exploring its effectiveness in various contexts, and the EFT International website offers resources for those interested in the scientific aspects of the technique.
Overall, EFT Tapping is a versatile tool that individuals can use for self-improvement and emotional well-being, either on their own or with the guidance of a trained practitioner.
04
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is a short-term, problem-focused form of behavioral treatment that helps people see the difference between beliefs, thoughts, and feelings, and free them from unhelpful patterns of behavior.
CBT is grounded in the belief that it is a person’s perception of events – rather than the events themselves – that determines how he or she will feel and act in response.
CBT can help with:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Panic attacks
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Phobias
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Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD)
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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Substance dependency
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Persistent pain
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Disordered eating
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Sexual issues
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Anger management issues
Most people with clearly defined behavioral and emotional concerns tend to reap the benefits of CBT. If any of the above issues resonate with you, I encourage you to try cognitive behavioral therapy.
With CBT, you’ll be able to adjust the thoughts that directly influence your emotions and behavior. This adjustment process is referred to as cognitive reconstructing, which happens through different CBT techniques.
Some CBT techniques are:
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Journalling
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Challenging beliefs
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Relaxation
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Meditation
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Mindfulness
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Social, physical and thinking exercises
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is much more than sitting and talking about whatever comes to mind during a session. CBT sessions are structured to ensure that the therapist and the person in treatment are focused on the different goals of each session, which in turn ensures that each and every session is productive.
If you or someone you know would benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, please contact me today. I would be happy to speak with you about how I may be able to help.
05.
Have you experienced a traumatic event? Are you suffering from lingering fear and anxiety? Do you feel like you no longer have any control over how you think, feel, and behave?
Posttraumatic stress disorder - also known as PTSD - is a mental health challenge that may occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a terrorist act, an act of war, a serious accident, rape, or any other violent personal assault.
It is believed that PTSD affects nearly four percent of the U.S. adult population. While it is usually linked with veterans who’ve experienced combat, PTSD occurs in all people regardless of age, race, nationality, or culture. In fact, women are twice as likely to experience PTSD than men.
What are the Symptoms of PTSD?
People with PTSD often experience intense thoughts and feelings related to their traumatic experiences. These can last for a long time after the initial event. Many people with PTSD also relive the event through flashbacks and nightmares.
People with PTSD often feel intense emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and detachment from friends, family, and community members. They often avoid people and situations that remind them of the traumatic event. Ordinary sounds or incidents such as a door banging or accidental touch in a crowd may cause a strong and uncontrollable reaction.
How Can Treatment Help?
There are a variety of treatments that can be used to treat PTSD. However, there are three specific techniques that are consistently gaining research-based evidence of their effectiveness in successfully treating PTSD.
Cognitive Processing Therapy:
This modality focuses on how a person perceives a traumatic event and processes it. A therapist can help their client work through stuck points, which are certain thoughts related to the trauma that prevents the person from recovering.
EMDR:
EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This technique uses bilateral sensory input such as side-to-side eye movements to stimulate the brain to process difficult thoughts, memories, and emotions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
CBT is a form of talk therapy that focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are related to one another. The goal of a CBT therapist is to help a client with PTSD return to a place of hope with a greater sense of being in control of their thoughts and behaviors.
If you or a loved one suffer from PTSD and would like to explore treatment options, please reach out to me. I have personally seen amazing transformation through therapy and want to offer the help you need to enjoy life again.
06.
🌟 Has your light dimmed over the years? Are you struggling to find your true path and calling? Do you long for guidance from a trained professional who understands that your relationship with God is your highest priority?
You are not alone. More and more individuals are seeking faith-based counseling—a space where both the mind and soul can heal. They want to talk not only about their challenges but also about God, the Bible, and the power of prayer.
And they’re not alone in this desire. According to a nationwide survey by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, 83% of Americans believe their spiritual faith is closely tied to their mental and emotional health. More people said they would prefer to see a religious counselor (29%) than a psychiatrist (27%), psychologist (17%), or family doctor (13%).
🕊️ Choosing the Right Faith-Based Counselor
Just as every person is unique, so is every faith-based counselor. They may differ in:
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Religious training and how much faith is integrated into their practice
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Populations served (individuals, couples, families, etc.)
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Psychological expertise and counseling methods
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Whether they are state-licensed or practice under a religious framework
Some counselors holistically integrate mind, body, and spirit across all faiths. Others focus on applying scripture to modern-day challenges. A state license may limit how openly a counselor can share their personal beliefs, while a Christian faith-based counselor can speak candidly about their faith and its role in healing.
💬 What Matters Most
Ultimately, the most important factor is how comfortable and supported you feel. Take time to research, ask questions, and trust your instincts.
If you or someone you love is interested in exploring faith-based counseling, I would be honored to walk alongside you. In my practice, all faiths are welcome, and every story is sacred.