Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC)

I assist clients to frame their current circumstances, effectively share with their loved ones, and instigate practices to achieve their goals for change. Typically, clients that come seeking counseling have done so either after exhausting the ideas they have tried before or because they have had a positive experience with counseling in the past and desire to get help sooner rather than later.

When a client can implement the changes gained during therapy and apply them between sessions without my assistance, they have successfully utilized the counseling process. My role should be temporary, as each individual, couple, and family achieve the changes and objectives they sought counseling for. Ultimately, my goal is to work myself out of a job.

For clients who wish to integrate their Christian faith in the counseling process, I can incorporate Biblical principles with goals for change. I have a minor in Biblical Theology from Evangel University in Springfield MO, and I am always grateful to integrate my training into the counseling process.

Individuals

I help individuals who are navigating relationship concerns. After I gain as much understanding from the client’s perspective as I can, together we then clarify goals for change and develop strategies for initiating that change. Therapy for individuals can explore thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and actions and cover a variety of concerns with a focus on experiencing positive change(s) for individuals.

Couples

Counseling for couples is helpful for those who are experiencing misunderstandings, communication difficulties, those seeking a better way to resolve disagreements, and those who want to learn how to work together and make changes that will reduce issues in the future.  I specialize in helping couples create an atmosphere where they can more easily ask for input and give understanding to each other.  We address differences of thoughts, beliefs, and values, and integrate an understanding of those differences into our work together. I help couples define new agreements for a better relationship that they can implement both during the counseling process and following.

Families

When working with family relationships, interactions, or behavior concerns, together we clarify the current boundaries by giving voice to the “unspoken/unwritten” rules that define the relationships of the family. I assist family members to provide input on desired changes for their relationships, which also improves communication habits along the way. I encourage “experimental practice” of changes one step at a time between sessions, until the desired results are achieved.  I utilize aspects of the Structural Family Model, which focuses on working with parents or guardians to change the culture of the home. Together we work to create a better environment for children by increasing positive behaviors and reducing negative ones.

My Experience & Training

Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, dual degree in both Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapy
Bachelors of Science Degree – Psychology (minor in Biblical Theology), Evangel University – Springfield, MO (2009)
Associates of Science Degree, Central Christian College of the Bible – Moberly, MO (2007)

Additional Trainings

Prepare & Enrich Facilitator
Completed “Marriage on the Rock” training seminar
Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Instructor
Completed training in the “Core Communication” Program

Affiliations:

Member of the American Counseling Association (ACA)

Currently under the supervision of Debi Hake, LPC. License #2016019479