EMDR Therapist in Ohio
I'm so glad you are here.
It means, more than likely, you are a human like me and maybe feeling a little overwhelmed (or a lot). You may have tried traditional routes and you are simply not seeing results. You are beginning to shut down and loose hope that things are ever going to feel different.
I became a therapist because many of the traumatic or stressful events in my own life later became the most transformative. However, the transformation was often hard won. It took work, a LOT of patience, and a great deal of self-compassion (something I knew very little about for the first 30 years of my life).
For me, it was not until I recognized that I couldn’t just power through everything, white-knuckling it, and hoping for it to feel different all on my own. I needed help and it took a lot for me to ask. The point at which I did finally reach out really left me very little choice and it is now my mission to normalize therapy and to support people well before painful break points happen (or to help put the pieces back together after it does).
Once I realized the power of therapy for myself and the healing potential of not only the sacred container of the therapeutic process, but the power of EMDR, I knew I needed to become a therapist.
It is my deepest desire and honor to help you begin seeing today's challenges as an opportunity to transform old pain and patterns into more joy, creativity, and connection.
No one said it would be easy, only WORTH IT
Midlife is a powerfully transformative time to do this deep soul work.
I know this because I've been at it for almost 25 years myself and have done more transforming during perimenopause than the rest of my life! I walk my talk and have continued to dive deep and heal trauma, old family stories, and self-limiting patterns. And guess what? Every time I go deeper, heal the next layer that emerges, I see the way it ripples out to those I love most. I firmly believe that when we heal your own wounds, it ripples out in beautiful, sometimes unexpected ways.
Education
Ursuline College: Master of Art in Counseling and Art Therapy, 2014
The Ohio State University: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 1994
Certifications and License
Licensed Processional Clinical Counselor State of Ohio: E.1800768
Licensed Professional Art Therapist State of Ohio: ART.24000175
Board Certified Art Therapist: 16-297
EMDR Trained Therapist
IFS Level One Trained Therapist
AMSR and CAMS Suicide Prevention and Treatment Certification
MARI Practitioner since 2014
My Experience
I completed my extensive clinical training at Cleveland Clinic-Lutheran Hospital Behavioral Health, Art Therapy Studio - United Cerebral Palsy, Akron Children's Hospital - Expressive Therapy Center, and New Directions - Residential Dual-Diagnosis Addiction Treatment for Adolescents.
After graduation, I had the privilege of working with adults in crisis on the acute psychology and detoxification units at the Cleveland Clinic - Lutheran Hospital. Running groups in an environment where people are often experiencing deep and profound pain, can be challenging. However, I found that art and creative expression simply found a way through the chaos and created opportunities for deep insight and a new way to cope with stress and anger. Combining creative expression with mindfulness, cognitive behavioral techniques, and education about addiction and mental health often allowed patients to envision a new way forward.
For close to 4 years I worked with children, teens, and families at Akron Children's Hospital as an Art Therapist for the Expressive Therapy Center and Haslinger Pediatric Palliative Care team. It was an honor to watch patients light up when given the opportunity to be creative. Whether it was a child dealing with a complex, chronic medical condition, a parent concerned about their child's survival, or a teen experiencing suicidal thoughts and self-harming behavior, creative expression allowed them to connect to something "life-giving", something softer and kinder than their pain. Through a variety of groups, individual sessions, and home visits for palliative care patients, I was invited into each patient and family's life to witness and hold space for their pain, sadness, and stress. I was also witness to many miracles of recovery.
I bring all of this experience, passion, and care into every session. I strive to create a non-judgmental environment so you can find new ways forward and feel supported in your healing journey.
