About us

Specialties: Included, but not limited to: ADHD, Adjustment disorders, Bipolar and related disorders, Depressive disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive and related disorders, Trauma and Stressor-Related disorders, Dissociative disorders, Eating disorders, Disruptive, Impulse-Control, Conduct disorders, Substance-related and Addictive disorders, Personality disorders, Relationship issues, Family discord, Coping skills, Parenting skills, Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention, Teen Dating Violence, Bullying, Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm, Criminal Thinking, Women’s issues, Men’s issues, Self-Love Deficit, Physical, Mental, and Sexual Abuse; LGBTQA Issues, Career Counseling, Life Transition Issues

I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who is passionate about helping people to find healthy and effective solutions to their problems from within themselves. I provide a safe, confidential setting where there is no judgment, only acceptance of the unique individual you are. I am adept at working with adolescents and adults, as individuals or in groups who are trying to rebuild life and establish a new “norm” after some type of life altering event. The clients whom I have served range from 5 years old to 87 years young. I primarily utilize CBT and DBT skills and techniques when working with adolescent and adult clients who have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD and other anxiety disorders, addictions, and personality disorders. I take a holistic approach with my clients, which means that I realize that each person, each issue, operates within a system that is comprised of many parts. If one part is weak or worn out, then the others have to compensate, making the whole less effective than it could be. My goal is to help you, the client, identify and maximize your strengths, while also gaining insight into your triggers so that you can learn skills to help you cope and live a happier, healthier life.

I received my Master’s of Arts Degree in Community Counseling from Argosy University, in Schaumburg, Illinois. I have obtained specialized training in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and in domestic partner abuse intervention and prevention. I have worked in the mental health field for five years in both inpatient and outpatient facilities. Prior to my counseling career, I worked for twenty years in corporate America where I was a manager and a leader of change.

In addition to my position at Portrait, I also work full time as a Mental Health and Addictions Counselor for a community based agency in Rockford, Illinois. I have three grown children and two beautiful granddaughters whom I enjoy spending time with. When not busy with my career or with my family, I like reading, writing, thrift store shopping, dining out, and baking. I am also an animal lover who would like to open up a sanctuary for homeless people and pets someday.