Have you ever felt disconnected from yourself or loved ones, while wondering what life really means? Have you lost your joy or enthusiasm for life? Many of us have experienced these feelings from time to time. Some of us have had anxiety that was so overwhelming, we forgot how to cope. We usually benefit from a helping hand and sensible guidance, and most of us can feel better with direction and a good set of coping techniques.
I am a licensed clinical social worker for both Alaska and Hawaii. I have been on a path to help others heal and grow since my early twenties, when I worked as a teacher’s aide in a tiny, rural community. From there, I went on to help folks with serious mental illness and substance abuse disorders who were incarcerated or living on the streets. I worked in a number of psychiatric institutions, where I came to see how deeply we need to meet our emotional needs in order to achieve happiness and form good relationships. Throughout my journey, I have gathered my own resources for coping, which I am committed to sharing with others. Since the pandemic started, I have worked as a telehealth therapist helping individuals suffering with complex trauma, depression, grief, anxiety, attention problems, career issues, relationship issues, parenting problems, and a number of other concerns.
From my experiences, I have learned that we are all basically the same. Everyone wants to be happy and free, and we all benefit from techniques for clearing our thoughts, examining our feelings, and helping our bodies be well. My primary orientation is cognitive behavioral therapy, with a focus on mindfulness, and I emphasize helping the body and mind to relax and clear, so balance can be achieved. As a licensed clinical social worker, I am dedicated to helping individuals discover a sense of meaning, through techniques aimed at developing deeper relationships with ourselves, our loved-ones, and our world.
Additional areas of focus: LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Gender dysphoria, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Intellectual disability, Jealousy, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Multicultural concerns, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Paranoia, Personality disorders, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Postpartum depression, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-harm, Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
AK LCSW 144604
HI LCSW LCSW-4771