You. Are. Enough.

It’s true. You have everything you need within yourself to be the person you want. 

We are all humans working to be our best in a very complicated and chaotic world. It is hard. It is painful. The struggle is real. 

AND . . . with the pain and struggle comes resilience and hope, . . . connection and community. 

We are meant to be in relationship with each other - to encourage, support, lift up. All of us have experienced those unbearable moments where we are treading water, barely breaking the surface so we can breathe.

Breathing is so much easier when we don’t have to do it alone. 

My hope is to hold space for you to feel safe, be seen and have a voice to express your pain, work through your struggles, and celebrate your accomplishments. Walking with you as you discover how to breathe again.

I am relatively new to the therapy scene. I recently graduated from IU South Bend with my Masters in Social Work. While there, I had the opportunity to intern at Ryan’s Place and Oaklawn. At Ryan’s Place I provided grief support to children and adults through individual therapy and peer group support. While at Oaklawn, I walked with individuals actively recovering from substance use disorders while balancing family and court obligations. 

Before graduate school, I provided mediation and facilitation services to individuals, families and community members impacted by conflict and/or harm to relationships. From all of my experiences, I have learned that I work best from a strengths-based, person-centered approach recognizing and honoring the inherent dignity of each individual. As a mediator, I regularly practiced, taught and modeled listening actively without judgment, being vulnerable and accountable, and positive relationship building and communication practices.

I firmly believe that the best learning happens when it is interactive while in a safe and trusted relationship.  I have found, that if I am going to ask someone to be vulnerable with me, then I need to be vulnerable first. Why would I ask you to do something, if I was not willing to do it myself? If I am asking you to be accountable for your actions, then shouldn’t I be accountable as well? Can we work together to learn best how to be accountable to each other in a supportive and equitable environment?

 I think so!

Now, as a human, wouldn’t it be important that I practice the same skills I’m helping you to build? In my life, I have struggled with conflict and pain within myself and in relationship with others.  I have actively mourned job transitions, infertility, and the death of loved ones. I have advocated for my need to grieve well, for my 2nd child struggling in our current educational system, and for healthy boundaries around parenting so I can be the best mom I can. 

The skills and training I have acquired both professionally and personally to effectively communicate, practice empathy and advocate for others are some of the tools I hope to share with you. My hope is that as a team we can process through your struggles and hurts and discover new ways to address them. And I’m not opposed to having a little fun along the way.

 I am excited to begin my practice with the wonderful women at Mindwell Counseling Group! I am interested in working with children and adults, ages 18 and up. I have a specific interest in working with grief and bereavement, family dynamics and communication practices, emotion regulation, depression, anxiety and trauma. 

 I can’t wait to meet you!

Be well.

 -“Justice is not about getting even, but rather about getting well” 

--Kay Pranis 

 P.S. Feel free to ask me about this quote when we see each other next. ;)