My Specialties

​

Life can present challenges that leave us feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure of how to move forward. Whether you are seeking support for yourself, your relationship, or your family, my goal is to provide a safe, compassionate, and solution-focused environment where healing and growth can occur.

I have experience helping individuals, couples, and families with concerns including:

• Feeling emotionally, relationally, spiritually, or professionally stuck

• Repetitive or unhealthy behavior patterns

• Marriage and relationship difficulties

• Pre-engagement and premarital counseling

• Anxiety, excessive worry, and self-doubt

• Depression, sadness, and hopelessness

• Stress and feeling overwhelmed

• Difficulty with motivation

• Challenges within relationships with family, friends, dating partners, or a fiancé

• Life transitions and adjustment difficulties

• Sexual assault, rape, and relationship violence

• Codependency

• Adolescent behavioral and emotional concerns

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Trauma recovery

• Inner healing

• Communication and conflict resolution

• Personal growth and development

• Support for UC Davis students seeking either short-term or long-term counseling

• Christian counseling (see below)

​​

Christian Counseling

I have had the privilege of helping many Christian believers navigate life's challenges while integrating their faith into the counseling process.

​

Please know that you do not need to be a Christian—or have any religious background—to work with me. I welcome and respect individuals from all faith traditions as well as those with no religious affiliation.

Life brings seasons that challenge us emotionally, physically, relationally, and spiritually. During those times, many people find comfort in receiving counseling that includes encouragement, biblical wisdom, and prayer when requested.

​

Scripture reminds us of the value of seeking wise counsel (Proverbs 11:14, 12:15, and 24:6). Whether you have walked with God for many years, are questioning your faith, or are simply curious about incorporating Christian principles into counseling, my goal is to support you—not judge you.

​

I attend First Baptist Church of Davis, and I have completed four years of ministry school. My Christian faith is an important part of my life and informs my values as a therapist while always respecting each client's individual beliefs, goals, and preferences.

​

Wondering if we're a good fit?

Finding the right therapist is an important part of the counseling process. I want you to feel comfortable asking questions and making sure that my approach is a good fit for your needs.

Before your first appointment, I provide a complimentary 10-minute phone intake. During this call, we'll discuss what brings you to counseling, answer any questions you may have, review the counseling process, and determine whether we're a good fit to work together. Because meaningful preparation takes place before an initial appointment, I do not offer extended complimentary consultations beyond this brief phone intake.

​

To help clients build momentum and make meaningful progress, I require all new clients to begin with weekly sessions. As treatment goals are met and progress is maintained, we can discuss transitioning to biweekly or monthly appointments when clinically appropriate.

There are also a few situations in which I may not be the best fit:

 

Individual Counseling for Relationship Concerns

If you are seeking individual counseling solely because of difficulties within your long-term romantic relationship, I generally recommend that both partners participate in couples counseling together. My goal is to help relationships thrive, and in many situations, working with both partners creates the greatest opportunity for lasting change. If you and your partner are already participating in couples counseling elsewhere, I would be happy to provide individual counseling to support your personal growth alongside that work.

 

Solution-Focused Counseling

My counseling style is primarily solution-focused. I have had the privilege of seeing many individuals, couples, and families experience meaningful healing and transformation through this approach. While I absolutely believe there are times when people simply need a safe place to process emotions, receive support, and be heard without judgment, long-term counseling is most effective when we are also actively identifying goals and working toward meaningful solutions together.

 

Crisis Care

I do not provide crisis counseling or 24-hour crisis services. Individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, psychosis, or other psychiatric emergencies require a higher level of care than I am able to provide in private practice. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline immediately.

 

Mental Health Professionals Seeking Therapy

If you work in the mental health profession yourself, I understand it can sometimes feel difficult to become vulnerable with another therapist. I strive to meet you where you are and move at a pace that feels comfortable while continuing to check in together to ensure we are making meaningful progress toward your goals.

 

Working with Multiple Therapists

Having supportive resources outside of our counseling sessions is both healthy and encouraged. However, receiving therapy from multiple counselors at the same time can sometimes become confusing or counterproductive, especially if recommendations conflict. If it appears that services are being duplicated or treatment approaches are significantly different, I may recommend discussing whether it would be most beneficial to continue with one therapist in order to provide consistent care.

 

Attendance & Consistency

Consistent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of successful counseling outcomes. Frequent cancellations, whether inside or outside the cancellation policy, may result in transitioning to an "on-call" scheduling arrangement rather than maintaining a recurring appointment or, when clinically appropriate, discontinuing services and providing appropriate referrals.

 

The Therapeutic Relationship

Like any meaningful relationship, the therapeutic relationship can occasionally experience challenges or misunderstandings. At times, legal or ethical responsibilities may require me to take actions to protect the safety of a client or another individual, which can understandably create difficult feelings. There may also be moments when either of us experiences disagreement or hurt during the counseling process.

While these moments can often become meaningful opportunities for healing and growth, there are situations in which it becomes clear that another therapist may be better suited to meet your needs. As therapists, we have an ethical responsibility to continually evaluate whether treatment remains beneficial, and when appropriate, I will discuss referrals to help ensure you receive the care that best supports your goals.

 

Insurance

My private practice operates on a self-pay basis, and I do not bill insurance directly.

If you would like to use insurance, the only way I am able to accept insurance is by scheduling your appointments through my Grow Therapy profile. Grow Therapy verifies your insurance benefits, manages all billing, and submits insurance claims on my behalf, allowing me to focus my time and attention on providing counseling rather than administrative insurance tasks.

To see whether I accept your insurance plan and to schedule using your insurance benefits, please visit my Grow Therapy profile:

​

Schedule Through Grow Therapy

 

Whether you choose self-pay through my private practice or schedule through Grow Therapy using insurance, you will receive the same counseling services, personalized care, and commitment to helping you achieve your goals.