With over 15 years experience as counselor, and as a graduate of University of Alabama specializing in Marriage and Family, I am currently specializing in trauma therapy for adults. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I am a Certified Internal Family Systems Therapist, a Certified Trauma Therapist and an Approved Clinical Consultant for the Internal Family Systems Institute.
I am a caring and compassionate Internal Family Systems therapist. My therapeutic approach is to provide listening and support to facilitate healing in a certain focused way that brings about core change and healing. With compassion and understanding, I work with each individual to help them build on their strengths, release old ways of being, and attain more harmony and balance internally.
Education
I have two Master's of Arts degrees, both from the University of Alabama. I received my Master's of Anthropology in 2001 and my Master's in Counselor Education in 2005 graduating first in my class. My background includes work as a Program Coordinator in a domestic violence agency as well as a year long internship in a hospital's psychiatric ward. I also worked with severely mentally ill adults in a day treatment program and eventually transitioned into doing work with children and families serving as a primary therapist for a group home. Prior to private practice, I worked as a director of counseling, health services and spiritual life at a university. I have been in private practice for 10 years.
License, Certifications & Advanced Training
I hold a license with the Secretary of State as a Licensed Professional Counselor, license number LPC005610. I am a Certified Internal Family Systems Therapist and an Approved Clinical Consultant for the IFS Institute. I predominantly use the IFS model in therapy because it helps people gently release pain and "stuck-ness" to embody a balanced and harmonious inner world (https://ifs-institute.com/) for lasting change. I have two levels of training in IFS. I am also a Certified Trauma Therapist completing a 9 month course through Dr. Bessel van der Kolk's Trauma Center. I have also completed intensive 40-hour training in trauma and loss therapy. When a person is ready, I can help resolve trauma using a technique called "Progressive Counting" that does not require traditional talk therapy. Lastly, I have advanced training in the Gottman Method, which is a particular kind of couples therapy founded on scientific research with thousands of healthy and unhealthy couples. I have completed Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 training as well as have received consultation in Gottman Method Couples Therapy (for more information, see www.gottman.com ) and hold a certificate in Couples & Addiction Recovery from the Gottman Institute.
Professional Publications, Papers & Presentations
Give Me Shelter: Temporal Patterns of Women Fleeing Domestic Abuse – co-authored with Kathryn Oths, Ph.D. Human Organization, 2007: 66:3.
“ ’Stayin’ Gone : How Social Support Shapes Help-Seeking of Women Fleeing Abuse” presented as a symposium paper at the annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology (March, 2002).
“’Stayin’ Gone: Social Support and Help Seeking of Battered Women Fleeing Abuse” – Master’s thesis (UA), 2001.
“Myths & Realities of the Battered woman” – co-authored with Kathryn Oths, Ph.D.; presented as a poster at the annual meeting of the American Anthropology Association (November, 2000).
“Give Me Shelter: Decisions of Women Fleeing Domestic Violence” – co-authored with Kathryn Oths, Ph.D.; presented as a symposium paper at the annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology (March, 2000).
“Patterns and Perceptions in Mental Health: A Cultural Domain Analysis” - presented as a symposium paper at the society for Applied Anthropology (November, 1997).