My therapeutic style is influenced by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Art Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Systemic Therapy. 

If you are new to the therapeutic world, this may sound like a different language. Put simply, I appreciate these frameworks for the following reasons:

ACT allows us to accept the reality we are living in and commit to values that bring purpose and meaning into our lives.

Art Therapy invites us to engage with art materials, and other forms of creative expression, in order to better understand current emotions, thoughts and behaviors. The act of art making is inherently therapeutic and the benefits of processing the meaning, content or general experience of producing the artwork can offer new insights into how we approach our struggles. You do not have to be an artist, or have any creative bone in your body, to participate in art therapy.

DBT embraces the idea that we don’t have to settle for only accepting our circumstances as they are, or fully changing everything in our lives. Instead, we can hold these seemingly opposing approaches together, welcoming both acceptance and change, in order to create a life worth living. It then offers concrete skills to assist us in better managing emotions, behaviors and thoughts.

CBT recognizes that our thoughts, emotions, behaviors and physical sensations are all interconnected and effected by our environment. In order to thrive in our lives, it is important to notice cyclical patterns we find ourselves in and end these cycles by recognizing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors we engage in.

Systemic Therapy explains that in order to understand our struggles, we must acknowledge the patterns and dynamics at play in our environment. This includes how we interact with others and the systems we belong to.

I have experience working with various populations and settings.

I provide individual traditional talk and art therapy services for adults. I conduct group sessions and facilitate collaborative art based groups in the community. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression and have a particular passion for assisting individuals during major life transitions. Currently, I am only offering in person sessions. In addition, I provide art therapy support group services on a contractual basis.

Before starting my own business, I worked primarily in hospital settings, intensive outpatient programs, group practices and community settings. In addition to my part-time private practice, I work as a Clinical Quality Consultant for mental health coaches.

My own genuine desire to help others throughout my life drove me to pursue a career in mental health.

I naturally found ways to create a supportive space for others growing up, but it wasn’t until college that I realized I could combine my passion for art making and curiosity regarding the human experience. Once I stumbled on the professional path towards art therapy, I have never looked back.

I attended Bradley University for my undergraduate studies where I majored in Art Therapy and Fine Art. I then went on to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) for my Master’s in Art Therapy. I have attained professional credentialing in Illinois and North Carolina for both Art Therapy and Professional Counseling. I have 10+ years of experience supporting clients.