As a counselor, two of my greatest strengths are rapport building and empathy, which I believe are the essential building blocks to any successful counselor- client relationship. It is important to me that my clients feel safe and comfortable in their sessions with me. Sometimes good rapport develops quickly and sometimes it takes longer. I have the patience to allow rapport to develop over time with my clients if necessary. After good rapport has been established, I like to discuss my clients' issues/problems with them and collaborate to find the best possible solutions so they can move forward in their lives. In some cases, like a crisis situation, clear and directive measures are required; but in most counseling relationships I prefer a team approach. In many cases, I find that my clients are very insightful about their own lives and can be very helpful in assisting in their therapeutic process. Another of my strengths is a strong desire to help people deal with their problems and successfully grow as individuals. When such growth occurs as a result of hard work in therapy, it is very rewarding to both my clients and myself.
My Background
My interest in psychology began when I was an undergraduate student, first at Muskingum College in Ohio and then at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA, where I graduated with a BS in Psychology. After staying home with my children when they were small, I continued pursuing my education by obtaining an MA in Counseling from Eastern University in St. David’s, PA. A few years later, after Pennsylvania passed legislation to license Master’s level counselors, I took an additional nine educational credits and earned a counseling license (LPC) in PA. I repeated this process after moving to Florida, obtaining an additional nine educational credits and earned a counseling license (LMHC) in FL. Along this journey I have worked with several group practices, done a short stint with private practice, worked in a school setting for an in school suspension program, and been a teaching assistant for graduate level counseling courses. Currently, I work for Lifespan Services counseling all age groups for a variety of issues and concerns. I have been working here since 2008 and very much enjoy being a part of Lifespan Services and being a positive influence in the lives of the clients that I serve.
Clients
My clients include young children up to twelve years old, individual adolescents, and adults facing a wide variety of issues. I utilize Play Therapy with children and work with their parents on improving their parenting skills. I also utilize Client Centered, Cognitive Behavioral and Solution Focused Therapies, depending on the individual client and their needs. I am involved in both short term and long term counseling relationships with my clients.
