I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the State of Illinois for both in-person therapy and telehealth, Licensed in the State of Florida to provide telehealth, and National Certified Counselor (NCC) with 20+ years in various aspects of the mental health field. I enjoy providing psychotherapy to individual adults, young adults, and couples who are experiencing barriers to personal, relational, and professional growth and fulfillment. My goal is to help others live a happier and more meaningful life filled with connections. I am very responsive and dedicated to my clients’ growth given my own personal struggles and triumphs in life.
I have and continue to participate in several couples and marriage training through The Gottman Institute, a distinguished organization committed to increasing the understanding of relationships through research. In early 2020, I was accepted into The Gottman Certification Track as my goal is to become a Certified Gottman Therapist in 2021. The Gottman Method is a science evidence-based model used to help couples overcome barriers to their relationship. Listed on the Gottman Referral Network, I have completed the following Gottman trainings: Level 1 "Bridging the Couples Chasm"; Level 2 "Assessment, Intervention, and Co-Morbidities"; Level 3 "Practicum Training"; 6 Modules "Making Marriages Work by Uncovering Secrets of Sex, Love, and Trust", 4 separate Gottman trainings via PESI, and in-person group training with The Gottmans themselves on their book Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love. In 2020, I took a course in Emotionally-Focused Therapy: EFT Foundations Workshop: Taking a Couple From Cutting Off to Connecting. I enjoy Esther Perel’s work, and to bolster my education and professional development with couples, in 2019, I attended monthly group consultation led by Vagdevi Meunier, PsyD, a Certified Gottman Therapist (Master Trainer through The Gottman Institute), trained in Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) and who incorporates sex therapy, mind-body connection, and multi-cultural influences in couples therapy. In 2008, I took a '“Unlocking Impasses in Couple’s Therapy” workshop by Terry Real based on his Relational Life Therapy model. I have found using The Gottman Method, weaving EFT, sex therapy, narrative therapy, mind-body connection, trauma-informed work into my couples work to be incredibly complimentary and valuable. I have also helped guide some couples who have been and continue to be stagnant and stuck in their relationship as they enter into and move out of a structured Healing Separation - which helps couples determine whether they should remain together with greater commitment or completely separate with integrity.
