Lotus Counseling

Intake and history is important to the way I work, but if a client is in crisis or has urgent issues, we will delay that to work on stabilization and coping skills.

I believe the relationship and connection is critical to a healing experience in therapy and time will be spent building that relationship and trust.

I am a client driven therapist;  I always honor the client's agenda and let them take the lead as to the direction we are going in therapy.

I am a holistic therapist:  I will always address mind, body and spirit.  I come from a person centered, feminist perspective and theory.  Person centered means I believe every client knows their answers and solutions in their core authentic self and a therapist's job is to assist in guiding them to find their own answers, as well as providing coping skills and psychoeducation.  Feminist theory says the therapist-client relationship is a partnership, and very interactive.  There should not be a one-up/one-down dynamic.

I have a BS in counseling and addiction from Metropolitan State University in Denver, Co. (1993)

I have a MA in counseling which I began at the University of Colorado-Denver and completed at University of Missouri.  (1996)

I received a Level II State Certification for addictions counseling in 1993.

I am Level II trained in EMDR.

I have extensive post graduate training in the treatment of trauma, DID and PTSD from some of the leading world experts, including but not limited to,  Bessel van Der Kolk, John Briere, and Colin Ross.

I am also trained in Trauma Yoga.

My fee is normally $120 per 50 minutes session, and $175 for a 80 minute session.  I recommend the 80 minute sessions for couples therapy.

in 1986 I completed extensive training to become a volunteer sexual assault counselor in Denver, Colorado and was a volunteer counseling there until 1994.

The first time I sat in the ER with a rape survivor, I knew I was called to do this work, and set about going back to school to become a therapist.  I started my BS counseling program in 1990, and my master's in 1993.

I work with adults, age 18 and up.  I have worked with clients in their 80's as well as late teens.

I have worked with a diverse population that includes many LGBTQQIA clients, caucasians, african americans, Indians, Iranians, and too many other ethnicities to remember.  I enjoy working with every ethnicity and religious background.

In this time of Coronavirus, I have really enjoyed participating in the online musical and artistic events that are being live streamed.  I love music of almost every kind and use music sometimes in therapy.

Prior to quarantine, I enjoy going to listen to live music and favorite local bands.

Interview them carefully as to their training and education and ask if they offer a free introductory session.  Make sure they have experience in the issue or issues you want to work on.  As I believe the relationship and connection and energy between the client and therapist is of utmost importance, I always give a free session to see if the client feels comfortable with me.

Make sure your therapist is licensed to practice in the state you live.

Ask about their availability during a crisis.

Approach the interview not only from logics, but your inner gut feeling of whether a therapist is a good fit for you.

Ask if they accept your insurance, and/or do they have a sliding scale if they don't take your insurance.

Ask about their general availabiity and flexibility.

Do I have a preference for gender or ethnicity?

How important is availability and flexibility to you?

What about the cost?

Do I have a particular therapeutic approach I am looking for:  ie, cognitive behavioural, psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, experiential, drama therapy, EMDR,  etc.

If the therapist has a website, take a look at it and it may answer many questions for you.

What are my expectations of outcome?