ABOUT ME

How My Passion Developed...

Years ago, when I was a graduate school intern in Atlanta, I was unsure where to start. I had to decide if I wanted to start working as an intern with a private practice, group practice, or a community agency. Working in a practice setting seemed easier than working in the community agency setting. So I set up interviews for them all, hoping I would get call backs to work in the "easier" setting opposed to the trauma work in the community agency. Helping people work through their problems like depression or anxiety was already scary enough but working through their traumas? Yeesh! That was terrifying! Especially since I had a complex trauma history myself. Needless to say, I hit it out of the park with all my interviews. I was offered three intern positions and had to make a final decision.

​

But a conversation with my husband opened my eyes to how many other young doe eyed interns avoid trauma work due to fears of coming home tearful and worn out every day. Our conversation encouraged me to try it out by accepting the community agency position since there is clearly a need.

I worked a year in a child advocacy and sexual assault center. I do not regret the work there although it was difficult and sometimes I did come home in tears but it was one of the best decisions I made in my career. I was able to work with teens and adults everyday by shedding light on their darkest hours after the traumatic event.

 

What is Expressive Arts and Why Use it in Therapy?

According to the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA), Expressive arts is

a combination of the visual arts, movement, drama, music, writing and other creative processes to foster deep personal growth and community development.

Using Expressive arts has been a game changer in my practice because it allows me to have fun and be creative as a therapist and open dialogue through the arts to facilitate healing to my clients instead traditional talk therapy alone.

Sometimes there are no words to speak the pain one has endured but it can be expressed through colors, lines, mark making, poetry, song, dance, drama, or play. You do not have to be an artist to do this work but just authentically yourself!

Believe me, doing trauma work can be very challenging. However, it has been the most rewarding work to help people that are broken and stuck in those hard places, and see them transform into these beautiful resilient beings that have the capacity to feel joy again after trauma stole it away from them. Expressive Arts helps facilitate that!

​

How I Live Out My Passion As A Therapist...

As a passionate board certified licensed professional counselor, my experience allows me to understand the best ways to address each client’s needs through support, validation, and meeting them where they are by building a strong therapeutic relationship. I believe having a strong therapeutic relationship builds trust and transparency being the vehicle of clinical skills and approaches to facilitate healing and safety. I am flexible in my therapeutic approach addressing the client's overall wellness (mind, body, and soul) and their uniqueness to minimize trauma symptoms and learn how to heal from trauma.

 

As an influencer, I stay up to date on the latest mental health news, trends, and industry standards to inform and educate about trauma and how we can heal now for a better future. 

 

I partner with my clients to design a path to joy, hope, healing, and transformation through Expressive Arts and get them moving forward after experiencing childhood trauma.

​

How I Help Others...

I get the opportunity to partner with adolescents and young adults that have trauma symptoms derived from childhood trauma that may cause them to feel stuck or hinder their faith, relationships, school, careers, or their self love. I do my best to give them authentic support, validation, and strategies using Expressive Arts for them to thrive everyday. 

​

I hold the strong belief that people are perfectly imperfect. They are beautiful and spectacular but can also become stuck, unhappy, have faith struggles, and unable to live a fulfilling life. That’s where I come in.

 

Browse my therapeutic services, find the one you connect with right now and let's talk on a free 15 minute Siloam Wellness consultation call!