My therapy career journey started in 1980 when I became a Case Manager working with individuals dealing with severe physical disabilities. At that time I was fresh out of undergraduate school and was seeking experience in the helping professions. My mother was a Social Worker and provided community services in the small town I grew up in and I was carrying the torch so to speak. I graduated with my MSW in 1991 and began working for a County mental health program in my state that provided services to people suffering from severe mental health issues and that had become homeless. This therapy experience provided me with first hand treatment support for a variety of issues. Including depression, PTSD, anxiety, thought disorders, etc. I became a generalist with a knowledge of treatment for numerous mental health problems. What I learned more than anything throughout it all though is that treating people with respect and dignity along with listening and hearing what they needed and trying to meet those needs was crucial to any type of therapy success. I continue to believe in this mindset and will do my upmost best to find solutions and provide the specific support and answers for each person I work with. In order to teach them how to better cope and reduce the impact of mental health issues they feel are impacting their lives in a negative way.