More About Me

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My Model of Therapy

It is my honor to walk alongside people and support them in their journey. I am trained and experienced in using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—an empirically-supported model which uses a lot of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as adding in the important elements of mindfulness and self-compassion to the process. Here are a few ways to describe the ACT model:

  • Be present. Open up. Do what matters.

  • I work with people to figure out what is getting in the way of what they want and find a way to move toward what they want.

  • ACT is about deciding what is important to you, committing to take the steps in that direction, and learning to mindfully deal with the thoughts, feelings, and life circumstances that impact us along the way.

what we do in therapy

This is what ACT therapy looks like: Skill-building, perspective-shifting, and life-accepting work are all part of this therapy process. In fancy words: cognitive defusion, emotional regulation, psychological flexibility, mindful self-compassion, choice empowerment, and value-clarifying. In all of this, I believe in authenticity, a caring presence, and a little bit of humor.

I am also heavily influenced by the work of Dr. Brene Brown, clinical social worker, and her research and work on embracing vulnerability, combating shame, and finding courage to do ‘the thing’ anyway. I believe that we can do hard things together.

My training and experience

My helping career started in the social services as a case manager. I have worked with women struggling with drug and alcohol addictions, children with behavioral concerns, and older adults seeking to remain independent. While working in the field, I earned my Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Carlow University in 2013. I learned a lot in my first job at the masters-level working with families in crisis and using a family-systems model of therapy. However, since that time I have shifted my focus to adults going through life transitions. I have seen the ACT model work wonderfully well. After years of clinical supervision, I earned my PA Counseling License in 2017. I have years of experience with:

Anxiety and Depression. This is so common. Whether this is a part of something as significant as the death of a loved one, or as “normal” as an expected life transition, many of us experience symptoms of anxiety and depression in life and need some help.

Career Counseling. I offer support to explore your next career step or teach job-search tools. I have an understanding of the current job landscape and hiring trends, and can provide professional coaching. I am experienced with the following assessments: MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory, StrengthsFinder, DISC, and Enneagram.

Cancer or Serious Illness Diagnosis. As a young breast cancer survivor myself, I understand the devastation of health issues. I have walked with many individuals through this process, whether they are just receiving a diagnosis or are years into survivorship.

Will you take the chance on this therapy process? I would be honored to work with you. Reach out for a free initial consultation.

-Katie