Marriage & Couples Counseling

My apologies – I am not able to accept new clients at this time.

Welcome! I enjoy working with couples, individuals, and families to help create more of the life they envision for themselves. I work cooperatively with people to identify helpful means to reach each individual, couple, or family’s unique goals. I offer a safe, non-judgmental environment in which to explore.

As a normal part of life, we run into unexpected transitions, stresses, and losses. Relationship changes, work stress, and health issues can create very uncomfortable feelings, physical problems, and we can even start behaving in ways that are not in line with how we want to go through this life. It is possible to achieve serenity even in the midst of what can feel like chaos.

Talking with a caring professional who honors individual strengths can help improve the quality of life.  I believe each human being can access the resources to live authentically and with integrity.

I am a Clinical Fellow with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina and Alabama, and a National Certified Counselor. With over 30 years of experience, I have worked with people who have overcome a wide range of issues.  I’ve worked in Employee Assistance, Outpatient and Inpatient Therapy Centers, Chemical Dependency Treatment, Mental Health Centers, the K-12 School System and at College Faculty, and Staff.

All are welcome, regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual and/or gender orientation, or spiritual beliefs.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Services

I provide individual, couple, and family counseling.

Rates

Sessions last roughly 55 minutes and are $100 –  I accept cash, checks, and credit cards. I have two packages which are paid in full upfront but reduce the fee for each session.

Payment

I am a provider for the following insurance companies:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, all policies except Blue Local, in the Charlotte area.
• Optum Health
• United Healthcare
• Out of Network

Privacy

All clients have a right to confidentiality, including all verbal and written information. This information cannot be shared without your legal consent.  It is understood, however, that couples and families who are in therapy together will have joint records, as we are working as a group.

The law protects the relationship between client and therapist.  There are, however, certain exceptions to this protection of confidentiality.

Exceptions

1. Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report to the appropriate authorities immediately.
2. I have a legal duty to warn if a client intends to inflict harm on another person.  I must inform that person and the appropriate authorities.
3. If a client intends to inflict harm to himself or herself, I have a legal duty to warn the appropriate authorities immediately.
4. I must comply with State Laws concerning subpoenas and court-ordered testimony.

Please note: Because I value your confidentiality, I do not participate in social media with clients.

About

I have been a counselor since 1986, in a variety of settings. I enjoy helping people, in a nurturing environment, to take responsible, empowering steps in order to live more fully the life they choose.

Honoring where people are, what goals each person has, and how different people process and learn is of high importance to me.  I don’t believe there is a one size fits all way to help any of us. I value highly how to help people access internal strengths, how to bring one’s best self to relationships, and how to follow one’s sense of higher self in general.

I have worked in outpatient and inpatient settings, focusing on a broad range of mental health and chemical dependency issues.  I have designed and facilitated various group therapies and have presented on topics including but not limited to Chemical Dependency, Child Abuse, Grief, Women’s Issues, Family Therapy, Communication in the Workplace, Coping Skills, Working with Gifted Students and the College Process.

Licensed Professional Counselors provide quality mental health and substance abuse counseling and are governed by the state in which they live and practice.  Multiple criteria are met to earn a license including a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in Counseling or a related field, several hours of supervision, and commitment to core knowledge, ethical behavior, and continual education.

Clinical Fellows in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy also have to meet multiple yet different criteria than those needed for a counseling license. AAMFT Clinical Fellows meet academic standards, undergo several hours of supervision primarily in marriage and family work, and commit to ethics central to the profession.

Qualifications

I live with my husband and two dogs just outside of Waynesville.  Our three kids are adults now and give us wonderful opportunities to visit them in very interesting places. I grew up in Indianapolis and earned my Counseling degree in Wisconsin. Soon thereafter, I moved to Mississippi, then Alabama, and now the mountains of North Carolina. For fun, I enjoy hiking, traveling, swimming, reading, doing yoga, and meditating.

Contact

Phone: (205) 837-3406

Location: 52 Walnut Street, Suite 10; Waynesville, NC 28786

Email: Please call me for an appointment. My email is not encrypted so I cannot ensure adequate privacy. Thank you.

New Client Forms

Please download, print out, complete all forms, and bring to your first appointment.