“The spontaneous movement in all of us is toward connection and health and aliveness .  No matter how withdrawn and isolating we have become, or how serious the trauma we have experienced, on the deepest level, just as a plant spontaneously moves towards the sun, there is in each of us an impulse moving toward connection.” Heller & LaPierre

“Connection, health, and aliveness”…..My desire is to create a safe, curious, compassionate and collaborative space to support clients in exploration of who they are authentically created to be.  I consider it a true honor to walk with clients as they do the personal work of exploring what might be getting in the way of true connection to God, self and others; as well as, what it is they truly want for themselves as a living, breathing, imperfect, subjective human being.    

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I primarily work with attachment, relational, and developmental trauma through the lens of The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM).  NARM is a non-regressive, body-mind based psychotherapy designed to support healing around the impact of complex trauma.  Complex trauma can cause a wide range of symptoms such as physiological limitations, difficulty regulating emotions, issues with identity, and difficulty forming and maintaining healthy relationships.  NARM utilizes mindful inquiry geared towards supporting nervous system regulation and exploring our adaptations to trauma that may have been incredibly supportive and even necessary for survival at one time but now may be creating limitations to our present life that do not align with what we truly want for ourselves.  NARM supports clients in exploration and movement towards this increased capacity for self-regulation, connection and aliveness. 

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I also utilize EMDR therapy to support clients in healing from disturbing symptoms and emotional distress associated with specific traumatic memories.  EMDR employs bilateral stimulation (visual, auditory or tactile stimuli that occurs in a rhythmic right-left pattern) to anchor clients in the present moment while recalling the memory.  In a structured, kind, and grounded space, EMDR therapy provides the framework for facilitating access to the traumatic memory network and safely processing the information associated with that memory so that new associations are forged - creating space for adaptive memories and information that compassionately support new learning, elimination of emotional distress, and formation of new cognitive insights.  

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EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Master of Arts in Education from The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health from The University of Montevallo
Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor
National Certified Counselor
Certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) Therapist
Certified NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model) Master Therapist 
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
Certified Experiential Therapist - Level 1
IASIS Certified Provider
Certified Early Childhood & Elementary Teacher