Trauma Focused Therapists in Missoula, MT

Every person, regardless of what they have been through or where they come from, has the capacity to heal. This is the core belief that drives my work with clients. If you choose to work with me, I will provide a compassionate and non-judgmental environment where you can start to grow, change, and find peace. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I have experience working with clients facing trauma, attachment concerns, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, parenting issues, chronic illness, infertility, pregnancy loss, prenatal and postpartum struggles, and stage of life changes.

I believe we all have the capacity to heal. If you chose to work with me, I will offer you a non-judgmental space where you can heal and grow. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and I have a holistic approach to psychotherapy. I offer psychotherapy with adults, teenagers and children. I also offer therapy for parents who want to improve their relationship with their children. I offer therapy for a variety of issues and concerns, including anxiety, depression, loss, trauma, attachment difficulties, grief, difficult decision making, isolation, relationship distress and foster care/ adoption, fertility issues and pregnancy loss.

I truly enjoy getting to know my clients and supporting them along life's journey. I strive to always provide a safe, honest, kind, and non-judgmental space. A space where individuals and families can identify their needs, feelings, hopes, and aspirations. It is a magical feeling to watch people find their voice, grow, and reach their goals! Treatment will always be tailored to focus on the strengths and needs of each client. Together, we will explore and utilize evidenced-based interventions that will help you develop communication skills, a sense of self, and healthy relationships.

Please note: I do not have openings for new clients. I work with adults who are struggling with day to day stresses, life transitions or survivors of trauma. I have worked within the fields of trauma and mental health for over 20 years. I believe the foundation of belonging, sense of well-being and change is grounded in relationships, how we interact and how we are supported by others. Whether you are struggling with feelings of depression, anxiety, family conflict or past experience with trauma, I view my role as someone who is neutral and a facilitator of the process in which self-worth is strengthened and persons supported.

Each of us have deep-seeded value and deserve to be connected to our whole selves. Often, past experiences of trauma and suffering not only impact our beliefs, behaviors, and relationships, but disconnect us from ourselves. Discovering ourselves can be difficult, but it is an essential part of healing. Our capacity for growth and change is possible with understanding and compassion.

I believe that all people are capable of healing from past trauma and making changes to improve their lives. I feel fortunate to be able to help people through these processes. I work hard to earn my clients' trust by offering them authenticity, understanding, and unconditional positive regard. I have been in the mental health field for 16 years and I have been practicing therapy in Missoula for the past 14 years.

I am here to help you or your loved ones with the large scope of challenges life presents. I believe healing begins with trusting relationships, empathy, and a space free from judgement. I have worked in the social work field for over 15 years in a number of different roles, allowing me to use my diverse knowledge and experience to help my clients.

I have a passion for giving people a sense of hope and helping them realize their full potential. For the last 18 years I have worked with individuals, children, adolescents and families from a diverse range of backgrounds dealing with a variety of challenges including trauma, domestic violence, severe emotional disturbances and neglect. In my work, I utilize Motivational Interviewing and Solution Focused Therapy to help clients become active early in their therapeutic process. I also use Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to treat post-traumatic stress and related emotional and behavioral problems.

My favorite approach to therapy utilizes Attachment Theory. My practice has been weighted toward older adolescents and adults experiencing problems in living through trauma, addictions, suicidal ideation, relational problems, adjustment disorders, and mood and anxiety disorders. I also work with parents of young children. I have trained in Circle of Security, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and I'm well versed in Missoula's systems of social welfare.

I use a collaborative, client-centered, strengths-based, trauma-informed approach to help clients achieve goals related to living a healthy, satisfying life. I have a particular interest in working with trauma, including single incidents, recurring events, relational dynamics, and other types of distressing or disturbing events that can overwhelm our nervous system and impact our ability to experience well-being. I also work with a variety of other concerns including anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver. Prior to my work in outpatient counseling, I worked with children and adolescents to enhance their emotional well-being and improve their academic performance. I have worked with diverse client populations in a variety of settings including community based, residential care, crisis intervention, domestic violence shelters, and school systems. I am a trauma-engaged, strengths-based clinician with 8+ years of experience working with adjustment issues across the lifespan, emotional distress, problematic relationship

It is an honor to have the opportunity to accompany you on your journey towards healing and self-discovery. If you’re ready to take the first step towards positive change, I am here to help. Whether you are seeking support through life’s challenges, looking to explore personal growth, or simply need a listening ear, know that you are in a safe and welcoming environment. As your counselor I want to walk alongside you with compassionate support and guidance to navigate whatever may be weighing on your heart and mind.

I thrive on helping others heal and get to where they want to be in life. I feel that people usually come to therapy because something is not working in their life and change needs to happen but they are not sure how. I am passionate about my work and strive to help others every day. I am flexible with my approach as we are all different and I will follow your lead with what works best for you. I think that humor and connection are very important in a therapeutic relationship so that we can laugh and cry and I am able to push you at times to help you reach your goals.

A central focus of my counseling practice is providing affirmative and anti-oppressive support to transgender, non-binary and gender diverse people of all ages, as well as the queer community more broadly. For some people, this might mean that you're actively questioning your gender identity, navigating transitioning or experiencing discrimination. For others, you might have unrelated mental health needs but want to know that you're in a space where your gender and sexuality won't be either ignored or overly focused upon, but just included as another aspect of your experience.

Many of us will go through times in our lives that feel like too much to navigate on our own - life transitions, grief, relationship difficulties. In those times, it can be useful to have someone to help explore how we learned to cope and encourage positive change, resilience, and healthy relationships. My primary goal is to provide space for you to be heard, seen, understood and know that you are not alone in your struggles (because we seldom are)! I have experience working with intimate relationships, intimate partner violence, life transitions, and parenting issues.

If you struggle with mental health related issues, family and/or relationship difficulties, unresolved trauma or interpersonal challenges, I am here to help. I enjoy working with clients who are invested in making changes to help improve their lives. I am experienced working with clients with anxiety, mood disorders, interpersonal and relational dynamics, as well as helping those struggling with day to day struggles. If your goal is to be a better parent, a better partner, improve your family relationships, develop better self awareness and/or understand the underlying mental health issues that impact your life, please contact me.

There are times wherein our overwhelm can become so great we feel lost.

I am accepting new clients with immediate openings! I offer a space dedicated to you being able to show up and explore your life and relationships with curiosity and without judgment.

I believe that psychotherapy is an active process resulting in clarity and change. It can help identify ineffective patterns of thinking and behavior, which may create stress, emotional problems, stress related medical problems, addiction problems, and/or relationship problems. Sometimes the work can be difficult but can also be profoundly rewarding and life changing. I believe in the power of positive change and would love to help you turn your stress into a life balance.