My passion as a therapist is to empower people’s capacity to regulate to their nervous systems, re-negotiate trauma, and experience healthier relationships.  After 30 years of counseling individuals and couples suffering from a wide array of distresses, I strive to offer a warm and curious spirit to the counseling process. 

I hold a Master’s degree in Counseling from Colorado Christian University (1992), and am licensed as a Professional Counselor in the State of Michigan.  I also pursued extensive training in many different approaches to therapy, including EMDR and  a three-year trauma-focused program in Somatic Experiencing (SEP), developed from the work of Dr. Peter Levine. I am now am honored to assist in on-going SE trainings.

The models that influence my work with people the most are Somatic Experiencing, Attachment/DARE Therapy, Polyvagal Therapy, the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy . These approaches combine to offer a wealth of insight and direction into how you can get unstuck from survival states (fight/flight/freeze/fold) that prevent you from experiencing safety, repair, and connection with those who mean the most to you.

As I draw from these models, I not only invite people (you) to notice what they they think, feel, and believe, but also sensations in their bodies and their different nervous system states. We will also look at attachment styles and the role they play in your relationships. I am passionate about bringing a somatic (body), attachment, and nervous system awareness into the counseling process after watching this new awareness bring a freedom and fullness that many have described as life changing.

As a lifelong avid learner, I continue to hone what I’ve learned and discover more about how to care for those parts of us that remain wounded and underdeveloped as well as promote healthy, connected relationships. I am currently getting training in the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy through The Couples Institute. 

Jesus and I have been friends for decades. In an attempt to mirror his example, people from all walks of life and faith backgrounds are welcomed without judgment or expectation. And if you are wanting it, I will invite you to curiously explore your life through the lens of the larger narrative of the Christian Scriptures, namely where history is heading in that a resurrected Jesus will one day make all things new. 

In my free-time, my adventurous spirit draws me to the outdoors. Chester, my four-legged companion (pictured above), and I love to go on long walks in the woods or play with neighboring dogs.  I love trolling the waters of the Great Lakes for salmon and walleye, and enjoy the challenge of bow-hunting deer in the fall. Teasing my friends and family is a particularly favorite pastime—and I might appreciate sarcasm just a little bit.

If you are ready to further explore ways to improve your life and relationships, I would be honored to walk that path with you.

Call or email me today if you want to chat more or make an appointment. I’d be happy to help you explore nest steps.