Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Washington State License Number LF00001929

Experience

• Marriage & Family Therapist, 1999 - present
• Clinical Director
• Sunderland Family Treatment Services, 2005 – 2007
  
• Child & Family Therapy Supervisor
• Sunderland Family Treatment Services, 2002 – 2005
  
• Clinical Member
• American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, 2006 - 2008
• Child Mental Health Specialist, 2004 - present
• Over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. 

I specialize in Family Therapy for Couples, Adolescents/Children, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma and Abuse, Grief and Loss, and Chronic Mental Illness.

Education

• MA in Applied Behavioral Science, 1999
• Bastyr University, Seattle, WA
• Bachelors of Arts, 1997
• University of Washington 

Benefit of Therapy
Therapy is well suited for individuals, couples and families. One should consider therapy when circumstances are not improving; progress has been made and maintenance is desired; or prevention is needed for self-improvement.  Therapy can offer long lasting results when a therapeutic relationship has been established and there is willingness for improvement.  Treatment can relieve troubling symptoms, reduce conflict in relationships, offer different skills to handle emotional and behavioral difficulties, and improve levels of satisfaction in relationships, work and/or school.  Overall, therapy can improve the quality of one’s life.

Clinical Approach
I use an integrated approach of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Systems.  Treatment is considered to be most effective with a collaborative and individualized approach, whereupon, strategic interventions are used to create a plan for change.  Dysfunction in one’s life diminishes by enhancing self-awareness and reinforcing healthy, functional patterns of engagement.  Expectations and goals are clearly identified and through the pursuit of meaning and purpose in one’s life, stability can be achieved.  Treatment involves the enhancement of self-acceptance, emotional stability, and the creation of new solutions.

Interventions
Marriage & Family Therapy is one of the core mental health disciplines and is based on the research and theory that mental illness and family problems are best treated in a family context.  My techniques are goal oriented and directed toward alleviation of specific dysfunctional aspects of oneself and the family.  Treatment is short-term and result-oriented.  I work on acceptance techniques for generating change; and cognitive restructuring to improve one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.  These results will be brought about in a systematic manner that employs simple concrete methods one can apply on a daily basis.  Upon one’s willingness to commit time and effort to this treatment, he/she can expect success proportionate to the effort put forth.