Before I became a therapist, I was a high school educator, where I eventually realized I was far more concerned about whether my students were safe and doing okay than whether they could diagram a sentence. That realization led me to social work and, ultimately, to the work I knew I wanted to do all along. For about 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with people from all walks of life, and I still genuinely love being a therapist.
Who I work with
I enjoy working with teens, adults, and older adults because every stage of life comes with its own version of hard. Whether something unexpected has happened or everyday life has simply become harder to manage, I want to help you understand what’s getting in the way and find a healthier way through it.
Areas of Focus
- Teens
- Adults
- Older Adults
- Everyday Life Challenges
- Difficult Thought Patterns
- Emotional Well-Being
What it’s like to work with me
I’m compassionate, empathetic, and person-centered, but I’m also practical about what therapy can and cannot do. Problems don’t always disappear just because we understand them better. Sometimes the real change comes from learning to think about them differently, respond to them differently, and keep them from taking up quite so much space in your life. My goal is to help you work through what’s happening and get back to functioning in a way that feels healthier and more manageable.
How I can help
Together, we’ll look at the problems and thought patterns that may be making daily life more difficult and work toward healthier ways of managing them. I want you to leave our work with a different relationship to the challenges in your life, even when those challenges themselves can’t simply be removed.
A little more about me
I also have a co-therapist who takes his job very seriously, especially when treats are involved. Sawyer is my certified therapy dog and comes to work with me every day, where he helps make the therapy room feel a little safer and more comfortable. He’s always happy to accept some attention along the way.
At a glance
Works With: Teens, Adults, Older Adults
Areas of Focus: Life Challenges, Thought Patterns, Emotional Well-Being
Approach: Person-Centered, Compassionate, Practical
Session Options: In-Person & Online
Insurance: Aetna, BCBS, Carelon, Cigna, Healthlink, Humana, Medicare, Meritain, United Healthcare, and Private Pay
Education: MSW, Saint Louis University
Credentials: LCSW
Therapy Dog: Sawyer