Our Therapist

I am passionate about holistic mental health treatment. As a Licensed Marriage and
Family Therapist, I employ a strengths-based, systemic, multi-generational approach to
understand context and assist families and individuals in addressing their challenges. My
primary focus has been applying a trauma-informed lens to work with and treat trauma, mood
disorders, personality disorders, substance use, crisis, and couple/family relationship
difficulties. I am an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association
(EMDRIA) fully trained therapist, and have received certified training in multiple evidenced
based practices such as, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Trauma Focused-Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy, Gottman levels 1&2, and more. I am grateful to deliver treatments
designed to foster opportunities of self-exploration, understanding, and acceptance. All while
nurturing, strengthening, and unlocking inner potential for whole health and healing.

Growing up as the granddaughter of an Air Force retiree who was always proud but rarely spoke of his time spent in service, my lessons on the challenges of someone in the role of a professional helper or protector began early on. It was common for people in our grandparents’ generation and even our parents’ generation to be taught not to talk about things. We now know that pushing things down or numbing things not only doesn’t work but it also leads to more distress and to a higher risk of developing cumulative, traumatic stress, and sometimes traumatic injury.

Research shows that by working in a first responder position, emergency room, child welfare workers, and even psychotherapist profession, you are inadvertently exposed to cumulative, traumatic stress. It may be hard to tell if you are experiencing signs of traumatic stress or traumatic injury as most often the people in these positions have a different perspective on traumatic events and their signs of distress differ from civilians because they often show up to their profession expecting their day at their job to be life threatening, dangerous, or to have some crisis aspect to them. The threshold for intense fear or sense of helplessness is often already assumed. This makes it much more difficult for the signs of cumulative stress to be identified. 

Being married to a first responder myself, I have a unique understanding of the challenges and need for community support that can come from being a part of a public safety family.  Between the two of us we share four children, 3 dogs, and one cat that the dogs never agreed to. It has been crucial throughout our lives together that we have found ways to build a network of support. This is especially true when the public eye is focused on how professional helpers and the administrations, they work for handle critical situations, and are held to the highest standards.

This is where my specialty comes in. I am committed to bridging the gap of resources available in our area through my work at, At Your Pace Counseling, LLC.  In my work as a trauma-informed psychotherapist, we will use a practical approach that is a “best-fit” for you, the person, I am serving.  As a Certified EMDR therapist with EMDR International Association and a practitioner of The Cortina Method, I will be using advanced methods based in today’s neuroscience and evidence practices, combined with trauma-informed care.  I’ll be straight forward and transparent, as this is the best way, I know to build a relationship that works.

I am a born and raised Hoosier.  My pride and joy come first from being a wife and mother to my husband and our four children. I earned my bachelor’s in Psychology from Trine University and my master’s in counseling education for family and marriage therapy from Indiana University. My approach to services is designed to foster opportunities of self-exploration, understanding, and acceptance. Strengthening and unlocking inner potential for whole health and healing.  I appreciate your hope for something different and look forward to collaborating alongside you throughout your growth process.