About Me

 

I was born and raised in this area, and worked in the plastics industry for 14 years as an Engineer . My life transitioned drastically when I decided to stay at home to raise my three awesome daughters (by far the toughest job I have had!). After the loss of my Dad and going through a difficult divorce, I felt lead to pursue a new life path of becoming a social worker. I attended Judson College and obtained my Bachelor’s Degree in 2000 in Human Services, and went on to complete my Masters Degree in Social Work at Aurora University in 2004. I interned at Elgin Police Department, working with at risk adolescents and their families, and started a gang prevention program for middle school boys. My next internship was at Burlington Middle School where I assisted the school social worker, and became certified as a school social worker. After graduating from Aurora University, I spent two years as an Adolescent Social Worker in a hospital mental health setting, where I learned a great deal about mental health and trauma. The past two and a half years I have spent working with grieving children and their families, and those anticipating grief. 

 

 

 

Counseling Style

 

I use a strengths based approach working with my clients, and I enjoy using experiential activities including art, music, and writing. Partnering is the best way to describe my practice, as I want every client to be fully engaged in setting the goals for their own treatment. When working with children I also strive to include their parents, doctors, and teachers when possible. I utilize several theories in my practice including psychodynamic, trauma theory, cognitive behavioral, self psychology, and attachment. Sometimes people can repeat patterns of behavior that have been established due to past hurts or lies they have come to believe about themselves. How my clients feel about themselves is very important, and I believe every person has the power to change themselves and their relationships if they can be open and willing to do some hard work. 

 

Specialties

 

Special needs adolescents and adults, mental health issues, ADHD, anger problems, divorce, life transitions, abandonment issues, trauma, grief and loss.  

 

Hobbies and Interests

 

I enjoy gardening, working out with friends, reading, painting, hanging out with my daughters, riding my bike, and playing with my dog Dallas. I also love to travel and have gone on mission trips to New Orleans and Haiti. 

 

Favorites

 

TV: Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, American Idol

Movies: Summers End, Big, Good Will Hunting

Books: All of Francine Rivers’ and Jan Karon’s books, The Shepherd of the Hills, The Shack

Food: Pizza and my mom’s cherry pudding!