Counseling

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I am equipped with a variety of therapy models and strategies for helping individuals and families. Along with these “clinical” tools, I understand the power of providing an empathetic ear. With me, counseling is a collaborative process that involves building a confidential, unique relationship. Through this relationship I can shine that light into your life, helping you understand yourself and the world around you better, focusing on thoughts, feelings and behaviors that impact you and your relationship with others. Through this action-oriented, empathetic therapy you’ll find solutions for the here and now – solutions that can improve your outlook and circumstances.

Some new to counseling fear being judged. My job is not to judge – I provide feedback designed to help you resolve problems and make choices that will help you reach your goals for a better life. That also means being honest with you, and sometimes it may mean that I challenge you. It never means that I judge you.

Individual

Individual sessions with me are designed to help you gain insight into your thoughts, actions and relationships. With more time spent on the issues and challenges that prevent positive change, individual counseling can help you reduce life stressors, increase self-esteem and improve your life, relationships and happiness. Simply put, my job is to support you in expanding options, identifying positive choices and overcoming obstacles. During these sessions, you’ll focus on:

Increasing Personal Satisfaction
Decreasing Self-Doubt
Improving Communications Skills
Healing Past Traumas
Improving Relationships
Decreasing Depression and Anxiety
Ending Self-Destructive Patterns
Gaining Insight and Awareness into Unconscious Thoughts, Behaviors and Patterns

Couples/Family

I understand that today more than ever, it can be hard to maintain deeply satisfying relationships. They take time, attention and energy. Sustaining these relationships requires conscientious communication, tuned-in listening skills, an ability to forgive, and a healthy sense of humor. In couples and family therapy, I provide tools for enhancing communication, skills for negotiating differences and problem solving, and even techniques for having a “healthy argument.” These coping skills enable you to deal with stress, define healthy boundaries and experience the joy of intimate relationships. During these sessions, we’ll focus on:

Identifying and Understanding Expectations and Roles
Understanding and Developing Boundaries
Exploring Possible Family-of-Origin Issues and Impact
Improving Communication
Increasing Conflict Resolution Skills
Increasing Self-Awareness and an Understanding of Partner/Family Members
Exploring, Addressing and Resolving Presenting Concerns and Issues

Children/Adolescents

A time of exploration and growth, ages seven through eighteen can also be wrought with difficult challenges for some. As adults, we understand that challenges lead to growth and make us stronger, but for some children and adolescents the changes can be overwhelming. Counseling during this time provides them with the understanding and tools needed to conquer these challenges and grow.

I understand the challenges children and adolescents face and the cultural aspects that impact them as they grow. I help them to address these challenges whether from home, school, relationships or even within themselves, by providing a confidential place where they are free to discuss without judgment or blame.

My counseling sessions with children and adolescents are interactive, spending time building the relationship of trust and respect. I may ask one or both parents to participate in the sessions in order to develop healthy and open communication for all family members.

Counseling for children and adolescents includes:

Family Struggles/Divorce/Blended Homes
Low Self Esteem
Behavior Problems at Home or School
Anger
Anxiety
Learning Disabilities
Coping with Illness
Coping with Abuse or Neglect
Grief and Loss
Discipline Issues
Fighting and Bullying
Mood Disorders including Bipolar
Academic Struggles
Social Skills
Sexual Issues
Substance Abuse
Eating Disorders

Child and adolescent session concentration includes:

Learning about Themselves
Treatment for Learning Disabilities and ADD/ADHD
Increased Self-Esteem, Confidence and Assertiveness
Understanding their Communication Style and Learning New Skills
Exploring Feelings about Substance Abuse and Sexual Issues
Tools to Make Positive Choices about Substance Abuse and Sexual Issues

Child and adolescent relationship counseling includes:

Learning Healthy Coping Skills
Improving Time Management and Organizational Skills
Enhancing Family Relationships and Communication

Premarital

Built on a strong foundation, a fulfilling marriage sustains “in good times and in bad.” Pre-marital counseling helps couples to build that foundation, providing tools for honest communication, active listening and promoting shared values and goals. Taking the time before you get married to explore your similarities, differences, hopes, dreams and expectations helps you to avoid the disappointments that many couples face later.

During this 10-week counseling period, I meet with you as a couple and individually. We’ll explore your beliefs about marriage and you will learn how to effectively give and receive love within the relationship, how to handle differences, and how to communicate and listen.

Pre-marital concentration includes:

Identifying and Understanding Expectations of Marriage
Exploring Relationship Strengths and Growth Areas
Strengthen Communication and Active Listening Skills
Identifying and Resolving Family-of-Origin Issues
Defining Boundaries and Limitations to Ensure Relationship Growth

Custody/Adoption

I provide court-ordered Social Studies for families adopting a child or involved in custody disputes. A social study includes an in-depth psycho-social assessment of an individual, couple, family and their home.

I provide Social Studies for the following counties:

Tarrant
Dallas
Collin
Denton
Kaufman
Rockwall
Ellis
Johnson
Parker

Adoption Studies

During a standard six to eight week adoption study, I provide an evaluation of the prospective parent(s) and family members in their home. An adoption study takes into account the best interest of the child or children being adopted, ensuring that they are placed in a safe, stable and nurturing home. The study includes gathering and evaluating detailed information about a family’s background, parenting skills, home, community, physical health, financial stability and character references. Once I have completed the adoption study, I file the study with the court.

Custody Evaluation

During a standard six to eight week custody evaluation, I provide an evaluation that helps to determine a child or children’s legal and physical custody, as well as visitation agreements among parents. Looking for the best interest of the child or children, the custody evaluation includes face-to-face interviews in both homes with the parent and children present. A custody evaluation includes:

Child’s age, gender, mental and physical health
Mental and physical health of each parent
Lifestyle and other social factors of each parent, including exposure to physical abuse/neglect, substance abuse and criminal activity
Love and emotional bond between the parent and the child/children
Parent’s ability to provide guidance to the child/children
Parent’s ability to provide the food, shelter, clothing and medical care
The child’s established living pattern (school, home, community)
The child’s preference if they are 12 years and older is taken into account
The ability and willingness of the parent to foster healthy communication and contact between the child and the other parent

New to counseling?

If you are new to counseling, you may have some questions about how the process works. My approach to counseling revolves around you. This needs-based approach means that we work together to build a custom program that fits your needs. Our initial session will take about 60-75 minutes and subsequent sessions typically run 45-50 minutes.

How do you know you need counseling?

Counseling serves a unique purpose for each person, couple or family. Perhaps you’ve tried self-help books, videos or other methods and they have not worked. Or maybe, you need a new perspective or tools to help you face a challenge. Those can all be good reasons for counseling. I recognize those needs and customize my approach to meet them. For some, I provide a comfortable environment for working out challenges or difficulties. For others, I am available to listen, providing an empathetic ear. And sometimes, I serve as a sounding board.

Session frequency varies as well. We’ll work together to set a schedule that works for you. The pace we set depends on your needs and we’ll adjust as needed throughout the course of our relationship. For example, I see some patients weekly, monthly, several times a week, every other week, or even just once or twice. Pre-marital counseling, while tailored to each couple’s needs, involves 10 sessions.