I hold a Masters and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and have been licensed as a mental health or professional counselor (LMHC) since 1994. Over the past 25 years, I have worked as an individual counselor with college-aged students and adults in clinical, private practice, and non-profit settings. I also have experience working as an Indiana University (Indianapolis) associate professor in their undergraduate and graduate counseling and psychology programs. My specialty as a counselor is helping you to quickly identify and understand your blind spots and move beyond them. Blind spots are those beliefs or areas of your life that often keep us stuck repeating the same patterns that often cause relationship problems, depression, anxiety, and other issues. Many times in our life, we find ourselves stuck or overwhelmed, not knowing how to move forward. As a counselor, I will encourage, support, and assist you in moving beyond your current situation. Using theories or techniques of cognitive psychology, I help identify the distorted thought patterns that no longer work for you and teach you the tools necessary to grow and move beyond your current challenge. Counseling can help you move beyond a state of helplessness by examining new possibilities and helping you make the changes necessary to create the life you want. The counseling relationship is important to the successful outcome of therapy. By building a relational foundation, you can lessen your defenses and open yourself to the possibilities for change. This foundation enables you to explore yourself and your situation, understand self-defeating behaviors, and make the necessary steps for change. You are an active participant in the counseling process. My approach is warm and empathetic, yet also direct and authentic. It’s important to remember that as a counselor, I’m not here to judge you but rather to support, encourage, and guide you as you navigate through challenges.