Counseling & Psychotherapy

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We are trying to do the best we can with what is in front of us. Yet with everything going on in life, that is not always an easy thing. I believe that all too often problems and challenges are not just “all in your head."  In fact, many struggles are often affected by the world around you and the painful, unexpected problems in living you face.  I believe in creating a confidential, empathetic, and genuine relationship with people where they feel they can express themselves and be understood, as opposed to judged or blamed. Being a counselor means supporting and challenging people as they explore and grow. Using empirically supported approaches such as acceptance and commitment therapy and emotion focused therapies, I help people with connecting to themselves, others, and their valued goals. 

Sadness, anxiety, and fear are just some of the common uncomfortable feelings we experience in life. While difficult, uncomfortable feelings are also evidence that we are caring people that are hurting. Using acceptance and commitment therapy, I support people as they re-evaluate their feelings and get back on track living a valued life. 

My time as a therapist has taught me that hurtful relationships and loneliness are at the heart of a great deal of emotional pain. These hurtful relationships can happen with family, friends, loved ones, romantic partners, co-workers, and so on.  Using emotion focused therapy and other well researched approaches like ACT and the Gottman method, I work with individuals and couples on forming more secure, emotionally fulfilling relationships with themselves and others.

While the world can be a wonderful place, it can also be stressful and overwhelming.  When facing insecurities, we can feel over run by the discomforts that come when experiencing anxiety and fear.  We may struggle with confidence, become critical or cynical, feel the worst will happen, and unable to trust that we will be okay.  Feeling secure and comfortable in our own skin makes it easier to navigate the difficult and even unexpected stresses of life.  In therapy, I help people build a more secure and confident base with which to pursue their values and improve their relationships.

I have counseled a diversity of Oklahomans, including members of different races, cultures, ethnicities, LGBTQ+ populations, socioeconomic levels, age groups, religious affiliations, spiritual beliefs, and so forth. I am a secular counselor who believes a client's values and beliefs come first in counseling, while mine are best "checked at the door."  I believe it is a counselor's job to understand clients as cultural beings whose struggles may be perpetuated or amplified by broader social problems and discrimination.  I believe in promoting inclusivity and providing counseling opportunities to those who may not otherwise have access to help.

Many of us have experienced painful and traumatic life experiences. Anxiety, fear, loss of control, and hopelessness are just a few uncomfortable things lingering after such experiences.  Unfortunately, a lot of times we feel "it's all in our head" or that it's our fault for experiencing or feeling the way we do.  Using research supported counseling techniques, I help and guide people through the process of learning about trauma and healing from their suffering. 

Getting help for problematic substance use is hard, given the misguided stigmas and unfortunate ways our legal system approaches people struggling with from the use of alcohol and/or drugs.  I do not feel people are "alcoholics" or "addicts", in as much as human beings in pain and deserving help instead of punishment.  In fact, I believe a lot of problematic substance use comes down to trying to cope with emotional pain, whether for things that have happened, feeling out of control, or being generally unhappy.  Using acceptance and commitment therapy and other empirically supported techniques, I help people with learning about substance use behaviors and healing from them. 

I am meeting with clients both in-person and through online services.  All in-person meetings occur at my office located in OKC.   Note that online services allows additional convenience and flexibility for clients.  Studies have shown that online counseling can be as effective as in-person meetings. Counseling online with me involves a simple and no cost web-based application accessible by personal computer, smart phone, or tablet.  The use of online services requires a camera, mic, stable internet connection, and private location.