Trauma, PTSD, Grief Recovery, Depression, Anxiety, Adjustment difficulties, Relational problems, Parenting, DUI ADSAC Assessment, Addictive behaviors, Codependency…

Areas of Concentration:

Trauma

When we experience trauma, everything in our lives changes – the way we see ourselves, the way we see others, and the way we see and relate to the world. Trauma does not only affect our mental health, but it impacts us physically, even spiritually. Every aspect of our lives is affected. Our world is turned upside down. We feel stuck. We feel hopeless. We spin in a spiral that seems out of control (out of our control). There is a kind of trauma that very often is overlooked – adverse childhood experiences. We lock those up in a box and shove them away. Unfortunately, they do not stay hidden in that box of avoidance and denial. Somehow, especially in our adulthood, these negative childhood experiences manifest in emotional/psychological and physical symptomatology that disrupt our peace.

Whether your trauma stems from childhood experiences, unexpected or violent death, natural disaster, sexual abuse, domestic violence, terminal illness, divorce, etc, I believe you are capable to heal. We are not promised to never experience pain, but God assures us that He will be with us when we walk through the deep waters of life, or through the fire of life. I feel humbled to be an instrument He can use to provide hope as you go through the healing process.

Depression & Anxiety

Covid-19 hit so hard that even the strongest of us got swayed emotionally by the waves of the pandemic. We have seen an influx of individuals seeking therapy to process the changes in their lives caused by the pandemic – loss of jobs and careers, the loss of loved ones, the loss of homes, disruption or adjustments of routines, and most especially uncertainty (the fear of ‘what next?’).

Whether you are struggling with clinical or situational depression or anxiety, we can work together to identify your triggers and equip you with healthy coping skills and tools to handle the challenges that life throws at you. You are capable to recover.

Grief Recovery

Grief recovery is an integral part of my practice. My focus and work on grief stem from my personal experience of multiple losses. I am humbled to walk your journey of recovery and healing with you, having taken the path several times. I am humbled by the grace God has given me to comfort others now with the same comfort He comforted me with. The healing process sometimes can be long and exhausting, but I’d love for you to come to the point where you begin to see that you are capable to heal. 

"Grief is not a disorder, a disease, or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical, and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve." Earl Grollman

Marriage Counseling

The major purpose of God creating man is relationships. God’s desire for us is to live in peace and to relish the marital relationship. I enjoy working with couples and helping them identify the root cause of misunderstanding or miscommunication in their relationships, be it their orientation, personality, environment, life experiences, belief system, or other factors they might not be aware of. When a couple learns to communicate positively, problem-solving and conflict resolution become easier, and their bond gets stronger. Working through a forgiveness and reconciliation process in a struggling marriage is an amazing experience.

If you are committed to the institution of marriage and ready to change the unhealthy patterns that disrupt your marital peace, I will be glad to facilitate that change. I am trained in Prevention and Relationship Education Program (PREP). I am also a Certified SYMBIS facilitator. I utilize this research-based assessment instrument to help my engaged couples and newlyweds prepare for a lifelong fulfilling marriage.

Parenting Skills

Who says parenting is the easiest job on earth? I have heard parents make such comments as “I am not a good parent”, “I wish I could be a better parent”, or ask such questions as “What am I doing wrong?” Don’t we wish there was a clear-cut-one-fits-all manual for parenting? Parenting is a journey we embark on with our children as they grow from one stage of development to another, each child in his or her uniqueness.

Please give us a call if you need some support or help with developing clear and positive boundaries in the home, positive communication, nurturing, and positive reinforcement with your children. Our children grow and we grow along with them.

Addictive Behaviors

A lot of us have been directly or indirectly impacted by substance use-related problems. When it comes to addictive behaviors, I take into consideration my client’s level of change. It is not every time a client walks into my office that they are aware of the need for a change, or ready to change. I will meet you where you are and we can build on your strengths to help you with contemplating or implementing change. But we don’t only focus on the addiction only, we identify factors like trauma or mental illness that might prompt your use of mood-altering substances, or other addictive behaviors.

Family members and loved ones are most of the times overlooked when addiction is mentioned. However, the long-term impact on family members and loved ones cannot be over-emphasized. If you are a family or loved one of someone who struggles with addiction, and you are needing tools to help you navigate supporting your loved one in their recovery journey, please give me a call.

Note: If you are actively using cocaine, meth, or heroin, or have developed a high tolerance to other stimulants or opiates, including alcohol, you might consider a higher level of care first. This is because you might need medical care during the detoxification process. I provide services to those in the maintenance stage of their recovery, which means, they have completed inpatient or intensive outpatient and are seeking aftercare

DUI ADSAC Assessments

I am certified by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) to administer ADSAC assessments also known as DUI Assessments. This drug and alcohol assessment is one of the state requirements to reinstate your driver’s license if you have been charged with DUI, DWI, DUID, APC, Open-Container, or Possession of CDS.

Sometimes, the court might also order an assessment for other alcohol/drug or non-alcohol/drug-related offenses.

Therapy for Therapists

Therapists are not super-humans. Although we often wear many caps in addition to being a counselor, we also experience different kinds of loss, trauma, health problems, interpersonal and relational problems, parenting difficulties, etc. In other words, we face the same challenges and feel the same emotions as everyone else.

If you are a therapist seeking a warm, safe, and non-judgmental environment where you can process your own feelings about relationships, marriage, parenting, school, finances, work, or any other issues that disrupt your peace, so that you can thrive, please give me a call.

They say change is the only thing that is constant. However, we don’t always embrace change because of the discomfort, the pain, and the uncertainty it brings sometimes. Regardless of the change - new parent, divorce or separation, new town, new job, new school, let us help you process the change so that you can thrive in your new norm.