Philosophy
My educational background is in the discipline Marriage and Family Therapy. Fundamental to this discipline is the understanding that every person is part of many systems.
Families, social circles, work teams, communities, and nature, these systems all impact a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This is the foundation for my clinical approach and understanding.
I recognize that people are complex with many integrated parts: physical, emotional, cognitive, interpersonal, spiritual, and occupational.
My practice philosophy is holistic,
considering each of these integrated parts of a person. My framework applies concepts from Positive Psychology, Health Psychology, Environmental Psychology and a multi-dimensional model of wellness. Depending on the unique needs of each client, I use clinical assessment skills to determine evidence-based interventions that will support each individual’s needs. This could include the following approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Exposure Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, mindfulness, relaxation training, or other healthy coping skill development.
Bio Page Photo Credit: Whitney Wiatt
Education
I earned my Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Saint Mary’s University- Minnesota. I hold licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, in the state of Wisconsin. I maintain regular clinical supervision with a team of peers and engage in professional development opportunities to maintain competency, ensure quality work, and promote continued growth.
Personally and professionally I have witnessed the connection between our physical health and mental health. Over time I grew increasingly interested in health psychology. To pursue greater knowledge on ways to promote overall well-being, I completed the Mayo Clinic Health and Wellness Coaching Training Program.
Experience
I have over a decade of experience in the mental health field. Throughout that time I worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings providing therapeutic services in various formats: individual, couple/family, milieu, and group. I worked with adults, adolescents, couples and families focusing on a variety of goals ranging from wellness promotion to symptom reduction.
I have experience working with individuals on their career goals; improving work related issues, interests in pursuing new opportunities, and professional growth. I have a background working in leadership roles for several organizations and I am experienced as a consultant with an Employee Assistance Program. Through these experiences I have supported business leaders in efforts to improve employee performance, satisfaction, and effectiveness with teams.
I have a talent for public speaking and enjoy engaging audiences. I provide trainings, workshops, and retreats for groups of any size. My approach is to educate and engage participants in the topic of interest, with a goal of providing actionable content.
