Director
Ph.D.; Licensed Psychologist; Certified Group Psychotherapist. Board certified in Counseling Psychology
Grand Valley State University (B.S), Michigan State University (M.A.), Purdue University (Ph.D.)

Email: [email protected]

StrengthsFinder Top 5: Strategic, Learner, Relator, Maximizer, Achiever 

Approach to Therapy: Throughout life, it has always seemed to me that the state of a person’s relationships directly contributes to the person’s sense of meaning, well-being, and general happiness. A professional evolution of this belief is easily found in attachment theory and in an interpersonal approach to therapy. I pay attention to clients’ family of origin relational patterns and how these patterns shaped clients’ core beliefs about themselves and others, their patterns of being in relationships, and their style of coping with distress. When core beliefs become negative and/or patterns of coping and being in a relationship are no longer helpful or adaptive, I strive to provide clients with more adaptive coping and relationship strategies. I hope clients will experience a different kind of relationship in therapy that allows for healing of negative core beliefs and related patterns. Mutual trust in the therapeutic relationship, freedom to explore, and a feeling of acceptance in therapy are the most important tools to successful therapy.

Campus and Community Involvement:

• Various committees related to student wellness and mental health

Areas of Clinical Interest:

• Attachment and Relationship Issues
• Group Psychotherapy
• Trauma
• Women's Issues
• Student Mental Health Trends

Self-Care:

• Reading (fiction) or spending time alone to recharge
• Napping or getting to bed early
• Exercising to manage stress 
• Netflix (but I have to be careful not to binge!)

Fun Fact/s:

• I love bright colors and always get my clothes at great sale prices because no one else wants the lime green pants!