Wholistic Psychology
About
I believe the client and I are a team, and to that end I share relevant aspects of myself and my personal experiences to increase rapport and equalize power in the therapeutic relationship. I work wholistically, meaning I treat the whole person, including mental/emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of health, in the context of family, community, and the planet, addressing past, present, and future concerns.
I strongly believe everyone should have access to quality mental health services that they can afford. Therefore, I regularly negotiate fees based on the client's insurance coverage and ability to pay.
I specialize in trauma resolution, health psychology - mind/body connection, chronic pain/chronic illness; women's issues; LGBTQ issues; and ADHD in children, adolescents and adults. I provide individual, couple, and group therapy across the age span.
I have over 35 years of experience working in a variety of settings, including community mental health centers, college counseling centers, medical settings, and private practice. My clientele has ranged from age 2 to age 90+, and includes all genders, many different ethnic/racial groups, religions, and a range of socioeconomic circumstances.
The aspect of my work that I enjoy the most is seeing people grow. I feel privileged to have the trust of my clients, and to walk their path with them during our work together, sometimes as a guide, sometimes as a companion, and sometimes simply as a witness.
I am trained in EMDR, which is the most powerful treatment technique for healing trauma that I have encountered.
I run a Women's Wisdom Circle, which is a monthly Jungian-based group providing a safe setting where women can explore their lives. We use myths, fairy tales, folk stories, and creative activities to help us reconnect to our "wildish" natures and reclaim our voices and power from patriarchal oppression.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I offer a free 30 minute consult, on the phone or online - or in person in non-COVID times, for a prospective client and I to see if we are a good match. If we decide to proceed, financial matters are finalized and an initial 90 minute session is scheduled. In the first session we discuss current concerns and background information, including emotional/mental, spiritual, and physical factors. From there, I usually schedule weekly 60 minute sessions, though this varies depending on the client's needs and desires.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Kent State University. Completion of this degree included two years of part time practica and a one year fulltime internship. Practica took place in two college counseling centers and one mental health center. My internship was in the counseling center at Washington State University, where I specialized in health psychology and conducted therapy groups for survivors of sexual abuse and family dysfunction. I also completed an advanced predoctoral fellowship in Rehabilitation Psychology, working with spinal cord injury and chronic pain.
Prior to my Ph.D., I completed a MA degree in Clinical/Community psychology at Cleveland State University, including a 900 hour internship providing individual and family therapy in a juvenile justice setting.