I am licensed in Texas and have 10 years of professional experience in counseling students and parents as well as adults from many varied backgrounds and experiences. Additionally, I have volunteered many counseling hours working with people in non-profit settings. Prior to my counseling experience, I was a speech therapist and worked with students of all ages and disabilities. This work often involved communication and social skill education and training. My counseling style is very laid back. I would characterize it as warm and enthusiastic. Because depression and anxiety run in my family, I feel passionate about helping people in these areas. If you choose to work with me, we would discover and nurture the unique talents and skills you possess. My treatment approaches would be classified as Cognitive Behavioral and Mindfulness. These two perspectives work well together in identifying troublesome thoughts, behaviors and physiological contributing factors. Mindfulness – Based Cognitive Therapy The essential focus of MBCT is an easy, step by step training in mindfulness. Mindfulness is a state of observing one’s thoughts and feelings without judging them good or bad. It is a purposeful active attention to what is happening in the moment. Additionally, it also emphasizes learning how to live in a calm body state as much as possible. When you are in a calm body state, anxiety cannot exist at the same time. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT Therapy states that our thoughts, feelings, emotions and bodily sensations are all connected and that we think and do affect the way we feel. Additionally, I offer faith-based counseling upon request.