About 

Ages: Preteen to Older Adults; I work with clients age 12 and older. I have a history of working with the lifespan (clients of any age), but particularly enjoy working with teens and young adults. These stages of life are about finding yourself, and I love helping clients in the process. 

Spirituality: All Spiritual and Non-Spiritual Backgrounds; At Vivio Counseling, clients from any and all backgrounds are welcome and supported. Your personal belief system is an integral part of who you are and can be instrumental in therapeutic progress. I am no expert in the diverse range of spiritual and religious practices of our world, but I will hold space for you to explore and discuss how these issues impact and shape your unique needs. 

Areas of Clinical Specialization: Persistent Depression, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Phobias, Developmental and Complex Trauma, Suicidality, and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury; In the six years I have been a counselor, I have developed my approach to be especially helpful for those dealing with the issues listed here. Through continuing education, personal study, and experience with clients, I have gained a comfort and confidence in these areas that I find helps clients more quickly begin to make progress in our sessions. 

The LGBTQIA+ Community: All identities, orientations, and expressions are welcome at Vivio Counseling. This practice is intended to be a safe and welcoming place for people often marginalized and excluded in society. As such, I not only affirm the LGBTQIA+ community in my work, I celebrate you and your unique identities. I strive to be an ally in the work that I do and I hope Vivio Counseling serves as a haven for those that need it. 

Individual Psychotherapy: Every client seeks therapy for different reasons, and no one approach is going to meet the needs of every client. So, individual therapy starts with you and me working together to clearly define what you need from therapy and how we will achieve your goals. From there, the direction of therapy is largely up to you, with me asking questions and making observations along the way. As needed, I may incorporate education around coping skills, the psychobiological dynamics of mental health, the nature of trauma, and so forth. 

Group Psychotherapy: In group work, the group serves as the tool for therapeutic change and the therapist is there to direct and deepen the process. Clients share their experiences, emotions, and thoughts, finding insight and support from others dealing with similar challenges. Psychotherapy groups at Vivio Counseling are typically limited to 8 participants per group. 

Mindfulness Training: I offer mindfulness training in two formats: individual and group. Both focus on building a daily mindfulness practice that helps clients redefine their relationship with themselves, their thoughts, and their world. The training includes guided meditations, discussions around challenges to the process, and learning to use mindfulness to change your unhelpful patterns of thinking. Group training follows a group education format and can include up to 12 clients, whereas individual training is similar in practice to individual psychotherapy. 

Education and Workshops: I love sharing the skills and techniques I have learned with other helpers. I am available for workshops and training covering a number of topics, from suicide prevention to corporate mindfulness retreats. Complete a contact form or give me a call if you are interested in learning more. 

Person Centered Therapy (PCT): My personal approach to counseling is built on the ideas of Person Centered Therapy. At its core, PCT assumes that all people are capable of positive change if presented with a supportive and encouraging environment. My main goal as a person-centered therapist is to create a therapeutic relationship that focuses on validating your experiences, understanding your point of view, and respecting your value as an individual. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Currently one of the most widely used therapy approaches in the U.S., CBT teaches that how we interpret an event, not the event itself, shapes our emotional and behavioral reactions. Through CBT skills, clients learn to recognize and change unhelpful beliefs and patterns of thinking. I will often ask clients to keep a journal of their thoughts throughout the week and we will discuss and explore these thoughts in sessions. 

Trauma Focused Therapy: I have training and experience in utilizing a number of trauma specific approaches. With each approach, I begin by ensuring that clients feel safe and supported in the therapeutic relationship, in their daily lives, and within themselves. We then identify and strengthen the coping mechanisms and support systems you need to process your trauma effectively. From there, the specific approach chosen shapes the next steps. View the Trauma Therapy page to learn more about these approaches. 

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): When I train clients on mindfulness skills, I use the framework from MBCT. This approach to mindfulness was created to treat individuals suffering from treatment resistant depression, but has shown promise in a wider range of applications. MBCT focuses on strengthening mindfulness and then utilizing mindfulness to increase awareness and acceptance of thought processes. A core MBCT concept is the idea of "coming off auto-pilot" and living a more intentional life. Learn more about MBCT and mindfulness training on the Mindfulness Page.