Qualifications & Experience

I hold a Master of Science degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ and a Bachelor of Science degree in Church Ministries with Specializations in Counseling/Psychology and Cross-Cultural Missions Ministries from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Waxahachie, TX (now known as Nelson University). I also hold certifications in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, both through Harborview Medical Center.

My Call to Christian Counseling

I have felt the calling to counseling since my sophomore year of undergraduate work. Although I have always felt a calling to ministry, I felt in my heart that ministry would look different from a typical pastoral role. When my husband and I were serving as associate pastors, I felt the Lord strongly prompting me to start my Master’s degree to pursue professional counseling.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I love spending time with my husband and daughter, whether we’re at home or taking adventures such as camping or traveling. I enjoy drawing, painting, cooking, baking, and singing on the worship team at church. I also love looking for opportunities to maintain my Russian language, whether through practicing speaking with native Russian speakers, watching or listening to Russian, or studying the language on my own.

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Abandonment and Neglect
• ADHD
• Aging and Geriatric Issues
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chemical Dependency
• Coaching
• Counseling for Children
• Counseling for Teens
• Couples Counseling
• Codependency
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Family Counseling
• Grief and Loss
• Individual Counseling
• Infidelity and Affairs
• Marriage Counseling
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Premarital Counseling
• Relationship Issues
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Women’s Issues

Anxiety

In our sessions, we will first try to understand where your anxiety could be coming from, whether a specific situation, attachment issues due to upbringing, past traumas, etc. I would then help to identify certain “anxiety thoughts” you could have, hoping to identify distortions that may be driving these thoughts and helping you to come up with more helpful ways of thinking that are based upon truth and free from those negative distortions.

I would also look for the negative coping mechanisms you may be partaking in, which could be fueling anxiety even further, such as avoidance, abusing substances, etc., and help you learn more helpful, beneficial coping skills to utilize in daily life. Above all, I believe it is important to incorporate biblical insight and wisdom in the process of finding true freedom and peace of mind and heart.

Grief and Loss

We will all encounter grief and loss in our lives, but there are times when the loss is overwhelming and we need extra support. Grief and loss are also not just experienced with death but can also experienced in cases such as a failed adoption, infertility, the loss of a dream or goal, divorce, estrangement, loss of a job, etc. With understanding and compassion, I would help you process your loss at your pace, allowing the Lord to be close in your time of grief (Psalm 34:18).

Trauma

As a trauma-informed counselor, I understand how traumatic experiences can impact every area of life, no matter what stage of life a person is in. My goal is to help you process your traumatic experiences in a safe, empathetic environment where you can feel seen and heard, with opportunities for healing.

When working with clients dealing with trauma, I often utilize Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, aspects of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy in conjunction with coping strategies, as well as a Christian approach to address how trauma can impact a person’s spirituality, incorporating biblical wisdom in the healing process.

Individual Counseling

God has created us to be unique with different giftings and unique experiences throughout life. Knowing this, I take a client-centered approach to counseling individuals. Our sessions will not be “one size fits all.” Instead, I will seek to understand you as an individual with specific needs and work to find ways to assist you in your struggles and challenges.

Depression

Depression is often debilitating for so many, no matter what stage they may be in life. Depression will not just affect a person mentally or emotionally but physically and spiritually as well. Depression can often follow difficult experiences we may have endured, such as trauma, grief/loss, etc.

As your counselor, I will assist by looking at all areas of life where depression may be affecting you and help you address the areas that are contributing to your depression. This process will also often involve addressing maladaptive distortions we may believe while in depression, and finding more helpful, truthful thoughts about ourselves and/or our situations. Spiritually, this can also be where we learn how God sees us and how we can see our worth through His eyes.

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• Tacoma – Tuesday, Thursday
• Silverdale – Monday, Wednesday
• Online (WA Only) – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for individuals and couples looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment, the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out-of-Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction may be added for credit card payments.