My purpose in presenting this personal disclosure statement to you is to acquaint you with both my background and theoretical approach to the counseling process.  I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and board supervisor in the State of Texas. I am also a Certified Sexologist and certified Applied Clinicial Nutritionist.  I have experience with individual, family, and group work in both community mental health settings and partial hospitalization programs.  I adhere the state regulations for Licensed Professional Counselors, the American Counseling Association Code of Ethcis,  and the NBCC Code of Ethics.

My vitae is available for download at the bottom of this page.

Education

B.A., Psychology, University of Oklahoma, 1995

M.A., Community Counseling, University of Texas at San Antonio, 2008

PhD, Counselor Education and Supervision, University of Texas at San Antonio, 2013

Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (License Number 65055)

Certified Sexologist, The American College of Sexologists International

Applied Clinical Nutritionist, Texas Chiropractic College

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists

Brainspotting, Rocky Mountain Brainspotting Institute

Breath as Medicine, Medfit Education Foundation

Certified Meditation Teacher (CMT-100), Meditation Alliance International

Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT-500), Bhakti Yogshala

Past and Current Positions

Kerrville State Hospital

Healthy Families San Antonio

Telecare Mental Health Services

Solara Behavioral Health Services

La Paz Communtity Health Center

Center For Health Care Services

A Healing Alternative Counseling and Wellness Center, LLC

Areas of Experience Include

Individual, family, and group therapy in both community mental health and partial hospitalization program settings. I specialize in working with individuals with severe, chronic mental illness and individuals with co-occurring disorders. I have several years experience as a case manager with these same individuals.

I have extensive training in trauma informed care (Cognitive Processing Therapy [CPT], TF-CBT [Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy], Prolonged Exposure [PE], Seeking Safety, and Brainspotting [an evidence based treatment that combines EMDR with Somatic Experiencing]). If your therapeutic work involves trauma recovery, one of these treatment modalities may be of benefit to you.

Therapeutic Orientation

I don't believe in long term, intensive therapy in many cases. Let's get things figured out to a point that you need therapy as infrequently as possible. Or nevermore. "I'm doing great and don't need to see you again" is my favorite thing to hear EVER.

But, as a side note? I've worked with many amazing people who have found that longer term therapy has become an important part of their wellness plan. If you are one of those people, I'm happy to work with you for as long as you feel you are benefiting from services. I  never kick you out!  The important thing is for you to feel empowered to make that decision for yourself, rather than have me make it for you. 

I am relationally trained, trauma informed, solution focused, and practical, practical, practical. Therapy is an amazing tool but NOT intended to be a crutch. 

I believe in a wellness perspective within the counseling process, rather than a medical model. If you need a diagnosis for the purpose of further treatment or insurance reimbursement, we can discuss what would be most appropriate for you. However, this will not be my primary focus.

Many of the tools that we may explore in that process can include distress tolerance skills; mindfulness techniques; the exploration of feelings, cognitions, and behaviors; and expressive techniques such as journaling, art, and music.

Professional Affiliations

• Texas Counseling Association (TCA)
• Society of Indian Psychologists (SIP)
• Society for the Psychology of Women (SPW)
• Society for the Psychology of Women, Alaska Native/American Indian/Indigenous
• American Indigenous Research Association (AIRA)
• Native Research Network, Inc.
• World Health Organization Trauma Informed Care Subject Matter Expert Committee (WHO)
• International Transformational Resilience Coalition (ITRC)
• Mind Body Network (MBN)
• Institute for Mind-Body Therapy (IMBT)
• Kink Aware Professionals (KAP)
• The American College of Sexologists International (ACS)
• The National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists
• Meditation Alliance International

If you believe I have acted unethically in any way, you may report your complaint to:

Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors

Complaints Management and Investigative Section
P.O. Box 141369
Austin, Texas 78714-1369

https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/counselor/lpc_complaint.shtm

or call 1-800-942-5540 to request the appropriate form or obtain more information.

Would you like to learn more about my services?

For the privacy of my clients, I manage my own schedule, therefore I am typically able to reply faster if you send me an email .  I do strive to return phone calls within 48 hours and can be reached at 210 705-2121.