Meet the Team

“Resilient.” This is a word I often use to describe clients I have the pleasure of working with in therapy, as I am struck by the human ability to cope with suffering. Yet, sometimes the ways we have learned to cope end up taking us further away from our values. I believe therapy is fundamentally an authentic, safe, and trusting relationship which serves as the primary vehicle for change. In that secure and nonjudgmental relationship, we can evaluate together how past painful experiences might shape the way you are responding to your current concerns, to other people, and to your thoughts and emotions. When we have insight into where our patterns come from, we can then decide whether they are still serving us in the here and now; if they are not, we can try something new together. 

I have experience working with anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment concerns, relational problems, ADHD, and OCD. I also specialize in working with people who have learned to function at a high level, be that at work, in school, in family functioning, or in daily "productivity," but at the expense of their own wellbeing. 

My theoretical orientation is rooted in psychodynamic and attachment principles, coupled with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy perspectives and skills. I also have training in Emotion Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy, Prolonged Exposure therapy for trauma, Exposure and Response Prevention, and Emotion-Focused Therapy. I also regularly integrate mindfulness and grounding exercises into my practice. I have a variety of experience working in private practice, hospital settings, student counseling centers, and community-based mental health. The breadth of my training allows me to individually tailor my work with clients to be most effective for their unique concerns. 

I am a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Minnesota. I received my Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Iowa State University. I spend my free time hanging out with my family, making way too much food for gatherings with friends, and playing with my Sheltie, Mackey (named after a basketball arena in Indiana at my husband's request). I also love working out and am a former athlete. 

 One theme that often comes up in therapy is the experience of feeling stuck:  stuck with painful feelings, with past traumatic experiences, in unhealthy ways of coping, or in challenging relationship dynamics. When we are stuck with thoughts of the past or worries about the future, this gets in the way of living in the present. Especially as environments are often invalidating of emotional experiences, getting unstuck is about making room for what we've learned to avoid. 

Through a close and meaningful relationship, I am passionate about creating a safe environment in which we can get to the bottom of what is keeping you from the life you want to lead. My works seeks to help individuals utilize emotions as a means to gathering information regarding who they want to be and what values they want to pursue. Through healthy interactions with our emotions, we gain clarity that can be used to make decisions that lead us forward towards growth, rather than ones that hold us back from thriving.

I have worked with a variety of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, relational challenges, and co-occurring substance use concerns, including problematic gambling and video game behaviors. I am also trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy, which is an efficient and targeted trauma therapy that has had great success in treating trauma symptoms.

My theoretical approach centers around Acceptance and Commitment therapy paired with emotionally focused skills. As my clients gain comfort and experience interacting with their emotions, I encourage them to participate in practical applications of the work done together. This helps clients experience their progress in a way that motivates and creates momentum towards other healthy, value-aligned behaviors.

I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with 5 years of experience. I spend my free time being active, watching sports, and connecting with friends and family. Seeking help is a vulnerable and a brave first step to healing. I would love to talk with you more about what therapy would look like and how we can work together to meet your goals.