My Story:
As someone who has battled their own inner critic at 3 am, who was “painfully hard on themself” and often felt inadequate no matter what I accomplished, I am all too familiar with the important decision to find a therapist who “gets me”. Someone who truly understands the challenges women face in different stages of life.
What I have learned from my own personal journey is that the help of an amazing therapist can change everything!
Changing the way I think and relate to others changed my entire life. These changes encouraged me to return to school and pursue a career as a mental health counselor. So, in my mid-forties, I decided to leave a highly successful corporate sales career and obtain my graduate degree in counseling. I dug deep on my courage and dusted off my studying skills to spend the rest of my life empowering women to thrive, supporting couples who want to reconnect and walking the journey of trauma recovery with survivors.
After finishing my Master’s Degree in Counseling at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, I’ve worked at a residential treatment facility, Origins Recovery Center, on South Padre Island, Texas as well as a variety of different counseling settings including with incarcerated female juvenile justice offenders, high school students, and domestic violence victims. As a passionate lover of EMDR therapy, I have also provided hundreds of pro bono counseling sessions to men and women in my community struggling with unresolved grief, sexual abuse & assault, eating disorders, chemical dependency issues, self-harm, and panic disorder.
I just don’t talk the talk, I walk the walk. I continue to work on managing my own schedule, challenges, relationships, and stress in order to live a life of purpose and joy. I never encourage my clients to do something that I don’t implement in my own life. I’ve created a life beyond what I ever thought possible, which also reflects who I am in my truest essence. As a wife, mother, therapist, friend, I realize it’s possible to live authentically, fulfilling different roles and responsibilities. It certainly requires daily practices (mindfulness, meditation and yoga practices help immensely!) but I guarantee that it’s worth it every single day.
Think about it: Changing the way we think and relate to others can change our entire life. If’ you’re on the fence, I offer a 15-minute phone consultation free of charge to try and answer the questions you may have before deciding on counseling.
My favorite things
I enjoy spending time with my husband (who is a fantastic Attorney and just as passionate about helping his clients!), my 16 year old daughter (who is extremely funny and a talented dancer),and my 18 year old son (who is becoming a Renaissance man based on his love of football AND musical theater). I am a creative by heart. I have been teaching yoga for over ten years in Brownsville. I love acting in the local community theater, taking voice lessons, creative writing, and painting. I grew up in Austin, Texas and moved to the Rio Grande Valley 20 years ago. I am a seventh generation Texan. I love my community and the changes that I have seen over the last two decades. From the very beginning, I was accepted into the Rio Grande Valley community & I’m happy to still be here after so many years.
Here are my credentials if you’re curious:
- I have received extensive training and continue my personal and professional development in the following specializations: DBT-Dialectical Behavior Therapy, CBT-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and Online Telehealth counseling.)
- I am an EMDRIA Certified EMDR therapist.
- My educational background and training as a therapist blossomed from:
- The University of Texas at Austin Bachelor Degree in Speech Communications (BS)
- The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley in Counseling (M.Ed.)
- My licensures include:
- TX Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor #14216
- TX Licensed Professional Counselor#TX78535
