I have been a practicing therapist since 1994 and have specializations in: Pastoral Counseling; Women’s issues including Aging, Body Image, Rape, Domestic Violence and Incest; Depression, Loss, Grief and Anxiety; Couples Counseling; Serious Mental Illness issues with individuals or families concerning Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and other illnesses that often require long-term treatment and medications. I have a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University, FL, and a Master’s degree in Divinity from Duke University , NC. I believe that trust and compassion are key elements to successful therapy, as is regular engagement in therapy sessions, and commitment from both the therapist and the client. I often teach my clients techniques in breathing, using imagery, and journaling to use on their own when they have to confront issues that we work on in therapy. My style of counseling involves practices based in many psychological theories, and is tailored to the individual with whom I am working. Our sessions consist of conversations that may involve problem solving, teaching, guiding, looking more closely at issues that have been causing trouble for a long time, things that may never have been spoken of before, uncomfortable topics – whatever a client comes with is where we start, and together we will go from there. I am not here to judge, or come to conclusions about what you do or who you are. I am here to help you through whatever it is that causes you to want to talk to a professional therapist, and I will work with you as long as you need to heal and/or reach your goal(s).