Riverwalk Psychotherapy
Licensed Professional Counselor and Substance Abuse Counselor - Wisconsin
For the past 25 years I have had the honor of working with individuals, couples, and families as they endeavored to face difficult issues and feel better! As a psychotherapist, substance abuse counselor, and trauma specialist, I know there is not a one-size-fits-all approach that will work for everyone, and I enjoy working collaboratively with all of my clients to figure out what works for them. I believe that everyone wants to heal and feel better, but sometimes aren’t quite sure how to or why she/he is stuck. We work together to chart a path and get unstuck, working to move away from negative thinking patterns and self-defeating beliefs towards a sense of peace, possibility, and joy.
My style is supportive, nonjudgmental, and down-to-earth with a problem-solving approach. I draw from cognitive-behavioral strategies and family systems and psychodynamic theory, and I work in a humanistic and client-centered way.
Specialty Areas for Adults and Adolescents:
- Working through Impacts from Interpersonal Trauma (sexual abuse/assault, emotional abuse, domestic violence/abuse, bullying);
- Working through and resolving Depression and Anxiety
- Creating a plan to build a workable Recovery from Drug/Alcohol Abuse and Dependency
- Coping with Stressors and difficult Transitions (relationship issues, divorce, work/school adjustment, grief and loss issues)
Professional Experience and Affiliations:
(2004-2015) I am the founding Program Director of The Healing Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During my tenure, I created a highly-regarded and comprehensive clinical treatment program with individual, group, and art therapy approaches to healing from sexual trauma. As supervisor of the clinical staff, I trained interns, externs, doctoral fellows and professional therapists on how to provide evidence-based trauma informed care to survivors of sexual assault and other complex trauma.
I am an adjunct professor at Marquette University and Alverno where I developed and teach trauma counseling for graduate level counseling students.
I have provided numerous professional trainings for therapists across the State and work as a consultant to local agencies and programs in the area with a focus on interpersonal trauma services and programming.
During my career I have worked in outpatient psychotherapy clinics as a therapist and substance abuse counselor, and in an intensive outpatient program for adolescents who were struggling with substance abuse issues and their families.
(1992) Bachelor’s in Science (Psychology) at the University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign
(1995) Master’s in Education (Community Counseling) at the University of Georgia – Athens
(2006) Master’s in Business Administration at Cardinal Stritch University - Milwaukee
