Therapist / Owner

• Oct 2015 - Present

Compassionate Counseling, LLC is a Veteran and Christian owned mental health practice that is in the middle of transitioning from being open on a part-time basis to being open on a full-time basis. I have the pleasure of serving children (ages 4 and up), adolescents, and adults in the modalities of individuals, families, and couples. I also offer group therapy and will be starting a Powerful Play Parenting Group on March 18th to be held every Monday from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Starting Thursday, March 28th I will also be offering a PTSD & Trauma Support Group for Women on a weekly basis from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. I hope to be able to facilitate a substance abuse group sometime in the near future. For interested individuals I am also trained and certified to give supervision for those seeking to be licensed as a LCSW and individuals interested in becoming credentialed in Play Therapy. If you have any questions, would like to schedule an Intake appointment for therapy (individual, family, couple, or group), or would like to schedule an appointment to see if we can be a good fit for supervision and start the supervision track please feel free to contact me at one of the many places I am listed as identified in the Contact Information on this site. I am currently accepting new clients and will be honored if you would like to send a referral to me. Thank you for any inquiries you have and / or giving me the honor to serve you! Show less

Volunteer : Mentor / Big Sister

• May 2011 - Present

Provide support to at-risk youth to empower the youth to become more independent, responsible and self-reliant, contributing members of society. Coach mentee with anger management, social skills, communication skills, life skills and any other daily functioning skills as deemed appropriate. Build and maintain rapport with parents and other significant family members of youth to support match. Provide support to at-risk youth to empower the youth to become more independent, responsible and self-reliant, contributing members of society. Coach mentee with anger management, social skills, communication skills, life skills and any other daily functioning skills as deemed appropriate. Build and maintain rapport with parents and other significant family members of youth to support match.

Volunteer : Disaster Services Team / Disaster Mental Health / Services to Armed Forces

• Oct 2004 - Present

Provide crisis interventions and support to individuals and families experiencing trauma from a man made or natural made disaster. Advocate as a case manager and link clients to appropriate community resources in an effort to help clients rebuild their lives. Serve clients as a volunteer on both a local and regional level. Provide Reconnection Workshops for members of the military community in and out of the state of Virginia. Provide crisis interventions and support to individuals and families experiencing trauma from a man made or natural made disaster. Advocate as a case manager and link clients to appropriate community resources in an effort to help clients rebuild their lives. Serve clients as a volunteer on both a local and regional level. Provide Reconnection Workshops for members of the military community in and out of the state of Virginia.

Out-patient Therapist

• Nov 2015 - Mar 2019

I was employed at Youth for Tomorrow until March 2019 when I left to pursue my private practice journey in a full-time position. While employed at Youth for Tomorrow I had the pleasure of serving children, adolescents, and adults. I served clients in the modalities of individual and family therapy. I received specialized training in EMDR Therapy, Flash techniques, Ego State Therapy, Mindfulness, co-occurring disorders, and a variety of Play Therapy techniques that I gladly served my clients with based on their personal treatment needs. It was a blessing to serve the individuals and families I served at Youth for Tomorrow. Show less

Out-patient Therapist, Independent Contractor

• Apr 2013 - Jan 2016

*Facilitated and co-facilitated out-patient substance abuse and co-occurring psychotherapy groups for court ordered adult clients. *Provided individual therapy to court ordered and self-referred clients diagnosed with substance use disorders and / or co-occurring disorders such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and anxiety based disorders. *Maintained client charts and prepared written clinical reports in compliance with agency standards. *Facilitated and co-facilitated out-patient substance abuse and co-occurring psychotherapy groups for court ordered adult clients. *Provided individual therapy to court ordered and self-referred clients diagnosed with substance use disorders and / or co-occurring disorders such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and anxiety based disorders. *Maintained client charts and prepared written clinical reports in compliance with agency standards.

Employee Assistance Program Specialist

• Sep 2014 - Dec 2015

*Independently conducted mental health and chemical dependency assessments. *Provided brief solution focused counseling to self-referred or supervisor-referred youth and adult clients in modalitites of indiiviidual, family and couples settings on various mental health, addictions and trauma related issues. *Train external community based agencies on various mental health topics. *Independently conducted mental health and chemical dependency assessments. *Provided brief solution focused counseling to self-referred or supervisor-referred youth and adult clients in modalitites of indiiviidual, family and couples settings on various mental health, addictions and trauma related issues. *Train external community based agencies on various mental health topics.

Emergency Services Clinician

• May 2013 - Nov 2014

*Independently provided mental health and substance abuse assessments to children, adolescent and adult clients who are experiencing life threatening crises at local hospitals or other community settings. *Coordinated voluntarily or non-voluntarily admissions into psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse detox and / or rehabilitation centers and crisis stabilization facilities *Provided out-patient short term and crisis intervention therapy to youth and adults at an out-patient community behavioral health clinic *Worked collaboratively with a treatment team of multi-disciplinary providers to meet the best needs of the client. *Certified Preadmission Screener and Independent Evaluator for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Show less

Community Based Counselor II

• Jul 2012 - Jan 2013

Personnel Management

• Oct 1985 - Dec 1995

Served on active duty for 7 years and reserve duty for 3 years. Served on active duty for 7 years and reserve duty for 3 years.