From a very young age I was always the kid that others would come to with their problems. I think because I started out very shy and would prefer to listen, rather than talk. I liked being the person that people trusted and confided in. This helped me to develop a strong sense of empathy for others and keen listening skills, which I believe was preparation for what I was eventually destined to do. In college, I majored in social work and minored in Spanish(another passion of mine). I received my Bachelor’s at the University of North Texas and my Master’s in Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington. I began honing my clinical skills in the oncology department of a local hospital. This was very rewarding for many years and I had put my dreams of counseling to the side. It wasn’t until I had a crisis of my own that made me re-examine my career and shifted my trajectory.

So let’s get a little personal, during the first trimester of my 2nd pregnancy, we discovered that our baby would be born with a complex heart defect that would require three heart surgeries within the first 4 years of his life! I was completely devastated and filled with grief. As most difficult things in life, it did have its silver lining. Those were some of the hardest years of my life, and I have gratitude for the ways that it changed me. It forced me to focus on my own mental health as I had to stay strong even when I wanted to fall apart. I had to be strong for my son and the rest of my family, and it left scars that I did not think were capable of healing. Therapy, specifically EMDR, helped me heal from this difficult time. The wounds that no one else could see, that I thought I had to accept as battle ground scars, or badges that were proof of my suffering. My own healing propelled me into action! If I could heal, then I needed to learn this forma of therapy and help others as well! So this is my happy place, in the therapy room, helping to heal the “invisible” wounds of trauma.

I offer this specialized therapy to adults who are feeling the struggle. Through the use of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), together we can work towards healing, and living your life, not your trauma.