I know that choosing a therapist and going to therapy can be intimidating. Making that first appointment and getting to the first session is the hardest part. It’s not like choosing a therapist is the same as choosing your dentist. This is a very personal decision and you deserve someone you feel comfortable with. Rest assured, my first concern is to put you at ease.
We’ll spend some time getting to know each other and make sure the fit feels right.
I’m someone who always wanted to be a therapist so I started out in this profession young (too young!) I’m well equipped to help, having worked with hundreds of clients in my 20+ years of experience. Some of the details about my background are listed below but you’re probably more interested in knowing who I actually am so that you can figure out if you’d be comfortable working with me.
Healing begins with one step. Book your session today.
In addition to being a therapist, I’m a mother of two boys ages 15 and 19. I’ve been married for 26 years to my partner, Brian, whose academic career brought us to Des Moines, Iowa in 2014. (I love living in the Midwest and I’ll stick up for it any day.)
A little about me:
Like you, I’ve navigated the many transitions that life brings. Moves, losses, raising children, balancing work and life. I’ve been there.
I’ll meet you as a fellow traveler who, like me, is navigating the complexity of being human. My style is calm, grounded and nonjudgmental. I’m active, engaged and direct but not pushy. I won’t give you a checklist or try to fix you. I’ll meet you where you are with warmth, humor, and a deep respect for your inner truth.
My approach to therapy
It’s so hard to make sense of all the therapy acronyms out there these days, with new ones constantly being added. It’s confusing! Many therapies are simply a collection of tools and techniques that have been around forever and just get repackaged in different ways over time.
Let me try to situate myself for you in all that confusion while not boring you with the details. Mindfulness-based therapy is my wheelhouse and my particular home within that is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The ACT approach uses tried and true elements of CBT along with mindfulness. I’m also trained in EMDR and iRest Yoga Nidra as I find these useful when trauma or stuck places show up in therapy that are best addressed with less talking and more feeling.
Starting therapy can feel like a strange mix of hope and hesitation. That’s okay. Whether you’re coming in with something specific or just a vague sense that something needs to shift, you’re welcome here. You don’t need to have it all figured out on day one.
If you’d like to see if we’re a good fit, feel free to reach out. I offer both in-person sessions in West Des Moines and online therapy for adults across Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Georgia.
If you’re ready to make an appointment you can go ahead and schedule here.
I’ll review your appointment request and if it looks like I can help, I’ll accept the appointment and look forward to meeting you.
Not sure yet or have questions? Feel free to email me or book a free 15 minute call and we’ll have a conversation about your needs and see if we might be a good fit.
We’ll meet for your first session either online or in-person in West Des Moines and begin getting to know each other.
We’ll talk about what’s been going on and what you’re hoping for.
The first appointment will give us the time and space to really discuss what your needs are and get a sense of whether we’d work well together.
Therapy with me is collaborative and flexible.
Go at your own pace, get unstuck and build a life you love.
