I am both a Licensed Professional Counselor and Substance Abuse Counselor.  I completed my undergraduate degree from Marquette University and completed my Master's Degree from Concordia University.  I have extensive training, education, and experience in mental health, childhood trauma, substance abuse and addiction, gambling addiction, couples counseling, self-empowerment, and life management.  

I am known for a warm, relaxed, and comfortable approach to counseling. I am an Integrative Psychotherapist (which means that I utilize a variety of orientations and therapies according to my clients individual needs). My approach involves genuine caring, acceptance, and non-judgment. I work with clients from a strengths- based, positive, and affirming perspective. Through this approach, I believe in healing our mind, body and soul. When all three are in sync, a healthy and fulfilled lifestyle is achieved.

I work with a wide range of mental health disorders such as Depression, Mood Disorders, Anxiety, Bipolar, Schizoaffective Disorder, Oppositional Defiant, ADHD, PTSD and many more. I also work with unresolved emotional issues, self esteem/ self empowerment, grief and loss, couples counseling, substance abuse, relationship/family concerns, gambling addiction, and individual counseling for personal and emotional growth. 

My long term goal was to always become a therapist and a helping professional. I am very blessed to be able to work in a profession that I truly love and feel passionate about. It is a privilege to be invited into my client's inner lives and to travel the journey with them through healing, change, and self empowerment.

As a psychologist, professional counselor, clinical substance abuse counselor, and music therapist, I have learned how much I enjoy working with people to help them overcome obstacles, develop techniques for them to live within the range of their personal capabilities, and pursue activities to compliment and strengthen personal talents.  I view the therapeutic alliance as one of the most complex and rewarding tools when working within the therapy setting.  My passion and experience dovetail to give me the best opportunities to present clients with both traditional and non-traditional methods of working towards a healthy lifestyle or goal.

Earning my Bachelor's Degree in Music Therapy and then my Master's Degree in Community Psychology (both from Alverno College), I especially understand women's and gender issues.  Other areas of interest include self-sabotaging behaviors, family counseling, obsessive compulsive tendencies, as well as disordered eating.  I am skilled at using evidence-based techniques to help clients lead healthier, happier lives.  I believe in focusing on personal strengths to foster growth and insight.  I work with my clients to experience a deeper meaning of self in order to live a fuller, more enriched life.

While I grew up in a small town, I have been living in Milwaukee for 15 years.  This gives me the understanding of how lives can be impacted by location and resources.  I have experienced significant loss in my life and I believe it makes me empathetic regarding the losses someone may need to process.  I believe life is a combination of many components and no one thing makes up a personality.  Each client remains an individual.