I I am very excited that you have chosen to seek out counseling and hope that I am able to help you with whatever journey you are taking in your life.  I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 15 years’ experience in public education as both a teacher and school counselor.  I have also worked as a group and family therapist at an outpatient mental health clinic in Fort Worth for children and adolescents experiencing mental health related issues. 

         

   I have a Bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University and my Master’s from Dallas Baptist University where I studied counseling.  After leaving school and beginning my internship toward licensure as an LPC, I met my intern supervisor and began my study of Solution Focused Brief Therapy and the advantages that this type of therapy holds over other more problem focused approaches. 

         

  In my practice, I will be using a combination of SFBT (Solution Focused Brief Therapy) and Animal Assisted Therapy using my Great Dane, Layla, who I have raised since she was a puppy.  She and I were registered as a therapy team through Pet Partners in 2018 and she has accompanied me to my classroom every day for the past 2 years.  Having an animal like Layla in the room during a counseling session will often times aide in the relaxation and adjustment of the client to a new and unusual setting and can also provide a surrogate to talk to in case they do not feel comfortable speaking directly to myself as we build rapport.

 

 My clinical interests and areas of specialty include: Depression, Anxiety, ADD/ADHD, Anger Management, School related issues, Adolescent issues, and Grief and Loss.  My client population includes: children (5-12), adolescents (13-18), and young adults up to 25.