About

Welcome! I’m glad you’re here…

At this point, you are probably trying to decide if I’m the right therapist for you.

Most of my work is with couples and the LGBTQ+ community. I also see some children, teens, and transitional youth (people ages 16-24 who miss some level of parental support).

Couples come in looking for help with communication. They are in a serious, committed relationship but have difficulty discussing one to two topics or having difficulty talking in general. I see all couple compositions including but not limited to heterosexual, monogamous, open, polyamorous, gay, lesbian, and queer.

LGBTQ+ clients come in often feeling unsure of what they’re looking for out of therapy. Often the concerns just present as general anxiety. My job is to help uncover what is behind the anxiety. If it is a need for self-acceptance and some level of internalized homophobia, we can work together to figure out where the discomfort in your life is coming from to address the root cause.

Children and teens come into my office following a life change or experience that has knocked them off balance. This can be anything from moving school districts to the death of a loved one. Navigating these significant life changes with a developing brain is scary and often overwhelming. I provide a safe space to explore and cope with feelings.

Transitional youth come into my office feeling overwhelmed. They may have chosen to cut ties with family or have been forced to cut those ties. The system often looks at this population as adults, but they can feel lost and in need of some guidance. How do they tackle all the adult tasks when no one has ever given them direction on what to do? How do they cope with feelings of loneliness when their friends talk about what they did last week with their mom, and there is no one to lean on? That’s where I come in. I offer the direction and support they need to venture out into the world. They don’t have to face transition all on their own.

A little about my approach…

We’ll take a look at your thoughts and feelings. Where is that self-doubt coming from? What makes you feel so insecure? What is getting in your way when asking for what you need? After figuring out where these thoughts are coming from, we can help you move past them.

This will improve your communication, relationships, and overall mental health. You will see more satisfying bonds develop

As you grow, there will be more days where you feel connected and content and fewer days of feeling lonely and unhappy.

With couples, we will look at where the communication breakdown is happening. What pattern are you stuck in that keeps you from hearing each other? Once we figure out the problem, it can be both of you together against the issue instead of you two against each other.

Coming into my office…

My office style is all about comfort and focus. I try to keep decorations and distractions to a minimum and have the space set up to focus on doing the work we came in to do.

Couples in my office end up spending more time talking to each other than to me. I set my seating up so that you can choose to face each other to make this easier.

We start with a thorough assessment to see what we need to focus on. Sessions include a short check-in to see if anything came up in the last week that needs to be discussed. From there, we talk through and verbally process what is happening.

Talking things through in the context of couples work can minimize conflict and misunderstandings. We check in often for understanding, and I occasionally interpret and rephrase. We will also complete structured Gottman therapy activities to allow for the real-life experience to communicate more effectively.

Since I work with couples, adults, and transitional youth, there will always be plenty of space and seating options to choose from. Sessions include a check-in to see what has come up over the past week. If you have a topic that feels important, we will work on it for the session. If you don’t have a topic, then I will focus us on a path that will address meeting the goals you set at the start of therapy. You never have to worry about filling the time or not getting to focus on something important on your mind.

Kids and teens often feel uncomfortable just sitting facing an adult and talking. I keep art supplies and some therapy-appropriate games and activities available. Most sessions start with play and lead to talking. This helps kids and teens feel comfortable, open up, and take in new information more effectively.

Virtual therapy was never how I pictured my practice.

The transition to virtual services was abrupt, but I was surprised to see just how effective it was! Meeting together in our own homes is actually beneficial for therapy.

Being in the comfort of your space can make it easier to open up. It can also make for a smoother transition as you integrate your therapeutic insights into your life and home.

Of all the changes that virtual therapy has brought, I think the happiest party is my dog, Luna. She loves being a part of sessions and sometimes will poke her head into camera view to say “hi.”

Feel connected again.

Experience personal growth with support and reach your full potential!

Contact me today at (507) 216-0106. I offer a free phone consultation to make sure we are the right fit. This consultation usually lasts 15-20 minutes. If you get my voicemail, leave some information about when you would like to have an in-depth conversation.

I look forward to talking to you.