About Me
I am an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (ALMFT). I earned my master’s degree from Northern Illinois University in Applied Human Development and Family Sciences with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. My bachelor’s degree was obtained at National Louis University in Applied Communications and Psychology. My experience includes work in residential treatment, community mental health, and private practice settings.
I support individuals (ages 12+), couples, and families to form positive relationships with themselves and others. I have particular competence working with couples experiencing conflict or disconnection, parents and adolescents, and individuals recovering from trauma. My experience includes work with adult survivors of childhood emotional abuse and neglect, childhood physical and sexual abuse, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). My work with couples includes helping partners identify patterns of relating which leave them feeling stuck and isolated. I am passionate about supporting couples to find new ways of relating which lead to more positive feelings towards self and a deeper, more satisfying bond. To support my work with couples, I have advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and a certification in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, levels 1 & 2.
I view presenting problems through the lens of attachment theory, believing that our relational experiences powerfully shape our sense of self and others, thereby impacting our way of being in the world. I use experiential techniques to help my clients access and process key emotional experiences, and use this processing to identify clear steps towards change. My work is also heavily informed by family systems theory, meaning that I view problems within the context of the important relational groups to which we belong. I tailor my therapeutic approach to meet the needs of each individual, couple, or family- also utilizing CBT, ACT, and somatic interventions as needed.
