It is an honor to be part of the process of people making positive changes in their lives. I respect those who are willing to open up and examine themselves with outside assistance. My goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment where people can confront deeply personal matters even if those matters are difficult to talk about. Sometimes I am the first person my client has risked talking to about an issue; other times a client may have talked to many people but needs expert guidance to determine what to do. No matter where you are in the process of change we will begin our first appointment filling out paperwork that explains how counseling works. Then you will have an opportunity to tell me what brings you to counseling and what you hope to get out of it. From there, I will ask a number of questions to better understand the issues you want to address, set achievable goals for therapy and begin the process of working collaboratively to meet those goals. Your unique issues and goals will help determine which approach will be most effective in helping you achieve your goals. My style is interactive and goal-driven. Clients describe me as professional, personable, engaging, humorous and helpful. Most are able to quickly feel at ease around me and trust my expertise. Therapy sessions usually last 50 to 60 minutes and are often initially scheduled weekly or bi-weekly depending on individual needs. I believe when you enter therapy you will experience acceptance, renewed hope and helpful guidance, so I encourage you to make the decision to begin counseling.