Working Together
One-on-one therapy sessions provide a safe, confidential, nonjudgmental space to work on your personal goals.
Together we'll explore your strengths, figure out what's been keeping you stuck, and develop a plan to move forward.
Currently offering
IN-PERSON INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Meet in-person at the Deeper Wells office on the east side of Howell, at a frequency that meets your individual needs. Learn more about the process below.
ONLINE INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Meet online from the convenience of your home using the HIPAA-compliant Zoom platform.
COURT-ORDERED COUNSELING, SUBSTANCE USE EVALUATION, AND DRIVER'S LICENSE RESTORATION
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Blue Care Network
of Michigan
Self-pay option via cash or credit
Sliding scale available with proof of income
Meet online or in-person to complete court-ordered counseling for substance-related offenses or domestic violence. As a licensed therapist and addiction counselor, I can also provide the necessary evaluations for pre-sentencing investigations (PSI) and driver's license reinstatement hearings.
Commonly addressed concerns
Generalized anxiety
Persistent feelings of fear or worry about "everything and nothing." Sometimes we can pinpoint the source of the worry; other times we just feel this general sense of fear and dread without any specific cause.
Social anxiety
Pronounced fear over others' judgment of us. Sometimes people experience this in relation to specific situations, other times it's more pervasive and keeps us from wanting to do anything in the company of others.
Depressive episodes
Feelings of low self-worth, lethargy, lack of motivation, hopelessness, and just general sadness (with or without a specific cause) can all be indicators of depression. Episodes like this may accompany a big life change, or could be attributable to biochemical or other physiological causes.
Persistent depression
Like a depressive episode, feelings of low self-worth, lack of motivation, or just general sadness—even hopelessness—are common signs of depression. In the case of persistent (chronic) depression, these symptoms often become cyclical and keep us from being able to do the very things that may help our condition improve.
Low self-worth
Feelings of low self-worth can sometimes be an indicator of depression, but if we experience them without the accompanying low motivation and hopelessness, the situation may warrant a little different approach from the one we would take with depression. Trauma, childhood wounding, negative self-talk patterns, anxiety, and even present-day relationships can all contribute to feelings of low self-worth.
Burnout
The mental, emotional, and physical collapse we call burnout is often associated with work-related stress, but the truth is it can happen to anyone and can result from chronic stress across numerous life domains. Stress related to parenting, caregiving, friendships, romantic relationships, health conditions—and yes, school and work—can all contribute to the chronic levels of mental, emotional, and physiological stress that lead to burnout. Helping professionals and those with people-pleasing or perfectionistic tendencies are especially prone to this kind of stress.
Codependency
Broadly defined, codependency is when we derive our sense of purpose, identity, and worth from what we have to offer others. Those who would identify as codependent consistently put others' material and emotional needs before their own—often at the expense of their own. This frequently leads to burnout.
Boundaries
Boundaries are how we draw the line between what's "acceptable" and "unacceptable" in our world. They relate strongly to personal needs, so boundaries will look different for everyone. What's okay with one person may not be okay for another—that's normal! Some of us have difficulty identifying our personal needs and maintaining boundaries that honor them.
Complex trauma
When an experience overwhelms our system's capacity to cope, trauma is often the result. In the case of complex trauma, there may have been other experiences that exacerbated the trauma resulting from a single event, or the trauma we experienced may have been chronic in nature. This results in pronounced complexity in how the typical symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) present themselves.
Alcoholism
Terms around problematic substance use tend to be pretty charged in our culture. Some adopt the term "alcoholic" to describe their problematic use of alcohol, others prefer not to use this label. In any case, if you're concerned about your use of alcohol, it's worth exploring in treatment.
Addiction
With respect to substance use, addiction refers to a mental and physiological dependency (sometimes known as the phenomena of "obsession" and "craving"), resulting in continued use of the substance despite negative consequences.
Behavioral addictions / compulsions
Behavioral addictions can occur with anything we do, as it all comes down to a particular behavior "hijacking" the reward system in the brain. Some common examples are gaming, gambling, and the use of the Internet.
Self-harm
Self-harm is not necessarily synonymous with suicidal ideation (though it can be life-threatening and should be treated seriously as such). In many cases, self-harm is best treated as a behavioral addiction with particular risks that must be accounted for through safety planning.
Life transitions
With any life change, there is likely to be an adjustment period. When a sense of loss, grief, or uncertainty accompanies the change, adjustment can be particularly challenging.
Spiritual / existential concerns
For those who would consider themselves religious or spiritual, there is often an added dimension or perceived weight to the human experience. Even those who don't consider themselves spiritual are bound to wrestle with the big questions (what does it all mean?) at some point in their journey. Additionally, some of us have had challenging past experiences in this area and may benefit from a safe space in which to explore the impact of these events.
What does the process look like?
one
CONSULTATION
Either reach out using the options on the contact page or schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
three
INTAKE
Your intake appointment will be the standard 60 minutes. We'll chat a little more about what brings you to therapy and begin to identify some of your goals for treatment.
two
PAPERWORK
Once we've decided on a good day and time for your first session, you'll receive a secure link to paperwork that can be completed prior to your first appointment.
four
PROCEED WITH THERAPY
During your second session, we'll finalize your goals for treatment and determine the best course of action to help you reach them. Then it's just a matter of proceeding with the plan!
