to support your change journey.
holding the tension of opposites.
increase your awareness of the full spectrum of choices available to you.
everyone has a vested interest in getting unstuck and growing.
Clients can expect that I rely foremost on the rapport and trust that we are able to establish together. In over 10 years of practice I can truly say I never met a client I didn’t like! I am here to hold a mirror to your value and worth as both the totally unique you who you are and also to honor the common human experience. Therefore, underlying all my specific approaches and interventions are the core frameworks of unconditional positive regard coupled with existential identity questions.
working towards actionable next steps.
It’s a struggle just being human. We’re all doing our best to respond to the challenges of life.
Unless a client requests otherwise, I usually take a balanced approach to addressing issues in the past, present, and future. A holistic response requires viewing life as a continuum.
I focus on leveraging internal and external resources to create change, such as altering habits, adapting ways of thinking, and accomplishing goals through accountability. Much of my work has focused on addiction issues, trauma treatment, and group therapy.
My clients are often open and willing to look at themselves and increase self-awareness and may be at varying stages of the change process, including contemplation, action, or maintenance.
Some of the main methods I find effective with clients include habit tracking, Written Exposure Therapy, and Talking Circle.
“I can be myself with you.” “I want to keep working together because I trust you.” “I really like working with you.” “I’ve been feeling better lately.”
To support my clients to develop their own therapeutic agenda. Although I contribute and sometimes may challenge you, it will never be “my” agenda
Everyone has everything they need to heal and grow in their own ways and in their own time. Reminders can help!
Do quite a bit of talking as I provide meaningful psychoeducation throughout our sessions. However, the agenda will still be yours (ours together) and the outcomes may surprise you.
Sex addiction, as I am a grateful recovering sex addict! I have also abused alcohol and drugs in my past and learned to overcome them as problems in my life.
Attempting to reduce the inherent power differential in the therapeutic relationship. I do this by communicating with you as an equal who ultimately has all the answers you need within.
I wanted to continue to explore my own journey of recovery and personal development. I also extremely enjoyed engaging clients in experiential group work which I had learned through doing such group work myself.
How to continue to Decolonize Therapy and any/all aspects of the Mental Health Industrial Complex. I am also interested in learning Brainspotting as an adjunct or replacement for EMDR.
I am also licensed and practiced in Acudetox – acupuncture for detoxification and traumatic healing!
My identity and therefore approach to counseling is influenced by being a feminist female, raised in economic privilege and functional challenges. My white ancestors owned slaves, my family members struggled with addiction, and I came out as queer at an early age. I was adopted/welcomed personally and professionally by members of the Navajo tribe/Navajo Nation and this culture has strongly influenced me for 25 years.
One of my therapeutic superpowers is always being energized and (mostly) always smiling! That is one reason you will most always feel better after a session with me – joy is contagious and I find joy in working with you.
I have been strongly influenced by Navajo cultural beliefs including the direct advice of medicine men. As a practicing Buddhist for over 15 years I have been blessed by countless invaluable teachings from my guru, passed through many wise teachers. Other strong influences include Chogyam Trungpa, Ram Dass, Hannah Arendt, Prentis Hemphill, Lama Rod Owens, and James Hillman. Regarding counseling, I have learned from Carl Jung, Eduardo Duran, Robert Sapolsky, and Tian Dayton, among others.
All humans, regardless of background, but not without regard to their background. My counseling approach is all about uncovering the absolutely unique and wonderful things about you as an individual.
To ask questions, to hold space for and honor differences, to learn from you, to speak to culture, to do more research on my own time if it helps, and to continue the dialogue.
I am always striving to increase humility through a continual process of self-reflection and self-critique of how I can do better. I attempt to reduce counselor-client power differentials and maintain accountability to my clients regarding their culture and personal needs.
Quality time with my family (and cats), walking outdoors, watching wildlife like birds, paint-by-number, baking, reading, and local road-trips.
I don’t engage on social media but I understand and appreciate the potential benefits of platforms like TikTok for my clients! I definitely love listening to music – many genres but yes, I am a Deadhead.
I am working to enact ways of decolonizing in my therapy practice and also in my personal life. My family and I have loved being vegan for almost 10 years!
An undergraduate (BA) degree in Sociology/Political Science from New College of Florida (yes, THAT New College, if you’ve seen the news lately) in 1999.
I then undertook my first graduate studies in Community & Regional Planning at the University of New Mexico. I completed all coursework, but not a thesis to graduate that program by 2007.
I obtained a Certificate of Emergency Medical Technician – Intermediate from Central New Mexico Community College in 2011.
I obtained a Masters of Science in Addiction Counseling from Grand Canyon University in 2014 and became licensed as a LADAC.
I am currently completing a Professional Counseling Certificate from New Mexico Highlands University towards licensure as an LMHC.
In the last 10 years I have completed many counseling-related trainings and certifications, most notably EMDR, Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention, Red Road to Wellbriety, 12 Step Facilitation, SMART Recovery, Acudetox, Written Exposure Therapy, and Problem Solving Treatment.
Training on LGBTQ+ Clinical Concerns;Training on Ethical Practice Through Cultural Humility; Training on Indigenizing Peer Support; Decolonizing Wealth’s Good Relative Class; Training and Certification of Spiritual Competency in Mental Health
I am subscribed to numerous email listservs and podcasts which review the most up-to-date research in the counseling field. I share results of research with my clients. I also receive updated trainings on existing therapy interventions, such as EMDR and SMART Recovery, and am always looking for new/innovative modalities to learn!
Learning and practicing ways to create more equity and access in the mental health field and reduce the demands of insurance companies and courts.
I am currently pursuing an additional Professional Counseling Certificate to add to my existing Masters degree to gain licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in addition to my existing licensure as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I want to grow my private practice with integrity and the ability to effectively serve nearly any client.
Start with a brief check in about your week and then move to focus on the core issues that brought you into treatment. We may practice specific interventions during the session, based on my suggestions and your choice. We end with action steps and gratitude.
Sharing text messages or voicemails if needed. At times I may share resources specific to our work through email or text. I love hearing brief successes/celebrations of my clients between sessions.
(Generally) not working with children (under age 14), not seeing relatives of existing clients (or other potential conflicts of interest), not accepting social media requests.
