Chicago Mindful Psychotherapy and Andersonville Psychology are now
Andersonville Mindfulness & Psychology
Therapy is about making a connection with the right professional who sees your life without your filter to provide insight and support while moving towards goals that are meaningful to you. You are ultimately the expert on your own life; however, most of us can benefit from having someone join us on our journey to help us realize our true worth and potential. Having an outside perspective and taking the time to focus on you can be an incredibly beneficial and healing experience. I am honored to be a part of this journey for the individuals I work with. I strive to meet each person where they are, in order to give them the best possible experience and outcome during the therapeutic process.
I collaboratively approach therapy, integrating evidence-based techniques, developmental considerations, and mindfulness techniques with a humanistic approach and emphasis on individual self-efficacy. The most important facet of therapy for me is that I create a space that is safe, nonjudgmental, and feels truly genuine and supportive. I was initially trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) but have branched out into 3rd wave strategies such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I believe in finding practical strategies that help in the moment as we explore crystallized schemas, cognitions, and their origins. I also value the contributions of attachment theory to help understand our relationships and the power of self-efficacy to help people believe in themselves and make change happen. The evidence supports that our belief in our ability to make changes is more important than any other factor regarding how we produce these changes and move towards desired outcomes. With that being said, it is essential to focus not just on what is not working in one’s life but also what strengths can be built upon for each individual.
I am constantly exploring new resources and modalities to grow my skill set as psychology grows as a field and as we better understand the nervous system’s role in symptomatology. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a helpful therapeutic modality for many people as it can help tremendously with the nervous system activation that leaves us continuing to experience trauma related negative self-beliefs. I am also exploring training opportunities with internal family systems (IFS) and polyvagal theory in order to have additional tools and strategies for trauma-related difficulties.
The integration of mindfulness, or the idea of purposefully but non-judgmentally, attending to life experience in the moment, is a practice that allows us to live our lives more presently and experientially. Integration of mindfulness practices and techniques in daily practice allows one to transcend future worries and past shame that tend to interfere with everyday happiness and connection. Mindfulness is a journey rather than a destination, and regular practice helps us get closer to our goals, connect more fully with our lives, and gain clarity and peace.
Regarding assessment, I have several years of experience with various testing strategies, tools, and diagnostic questions, and I truly enjoy putting together strategies to help people get the most out of their assessment experience. We are able to tailor batteries to provide information on most general diagnostic questions as well as diagnostics in the realm of neurodiversity.
I hold a master’s degree from Fielding Graduate University in Clinical Psychology with two years of additional coursework and extensive psychological and neuropsychological assessment training from their Ph.D. program. I received additional coursework from Walden University for the purpose of obtaining counseling licensure. I also have several years of experience with psychological, neuropsychological, and some forensic assessment. I am a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor by designation since 2021. At Andersonville Mindfulness and Psychology, I act as the Testing Coordinator, part of our supervisory team, and provide individual therapy. I also provide assessment services under supervision from a licensed psychologist.