Interpersonal Therapists in Lincolnton, NC

When I started working in therapy, I often worked with people who felt “stuck”. Stuck in the rudimentary day-to-day life, cycle of unhealthy patterns, or struggling to cope after a tragedy. It seemed as though traditional talk therapy just wasn’t helping, no matter how many different things we tried. Clients were wanting something deeper, a more meaningful experience. A lot of people felt hopeless. Then… I saw the same individuals interact with horses. And that's when the magic happened. I knew the transformative healing that could happen through equine therapy.

As a counseling psychologist by education, I have been blessed to provide individual, group, marital and family counseling for over 30 years in various settings including major medical centers, university counseling centers, and private practices. I prefer to work collaboratively with clients, ages 13 to adult, and assist in their development of life and relational skills to help moderate their anxiety, depression, grief, frustration or relationship distress. My clients are confronting various life transitions including job stress/dissatisfaction, mid-life confusion, betrayal, divorce, adjustment to change or loss of a loved one.

I have over 35 years experience, 27 post-licensure, working with individuals impacted by trauma and other interpersonal issues such as relationship problems, mood disorders and emotion regulation difficulties. I have worked and trained at a world class psychiatric hospital, The Menninger Clinic, which has a legacy of excellence in care and a humanistic approach to work with clients. I am a believer of the resilience of the human spirit, and seek to offer psychotherapy to those who wish not only to change, but to heal. If this sounds like to right approach for you, please contact me regarding services.

Identifying strengths in each person is the foundation of my work. I work with children, families, teenagers, & adults. Families & individuals come to see me if they are experiencing significant life transitions, like divorce, grief, or loss, or they are struggling with interpersonal relationships or unhealthy attachment styles. I am passionate about supporting adolescents processing trauma & helping them find their innate resiliencies to cultivate healthy lifestyles. I work with young adults transitioning into adulthood, identify their values, goals, & work on their unhealthy thoughts or actions keeping them from excelling in life.

Anxiety and difficulties with emotional regulation underlie many problems experienced by people of all ages. Some of these conditions are generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, depression and marital problems. I work with adults using mindfulness, cognitive behavioral, and dialectical behavioral therapies. These therapies are proven to be effective means of reducing anxiety and equipping my clients with skills that they will use the rest of their lives. These skills allow them to think more accurately, live mindfully and regulate emotions leading to reduced stress and healthier interpersonal relationships.

Feeling isolated? Unsure how to manage demands on you? Struggling with decisions? Can't share feelings because you fear being misunderstood? Feeling overwhelmed? I work with adults dealing with issues including excessive worry, role changes, indecision, unhappiness, interpersonal differences to unexpected life challenges. Psychotherapy helps to gain a better understanding of self and others as well as recognize triggers affecting positive growth and change. You never endure this "journey" alone. Together, we explore beliefs, unresolved issues, feelings, and behaviors to develop healthy coping skills and life choices.

Are you looking for something different? I will help you explore solutions through various ways including traditional talk therapy, utilizing yoga and active relaxation, as well as Neurofeedback training. Since 2009, I have served as an Outpatient Therapist in private practice. I have experience and training in the areas of anxiety, depression, divorce, separation, grief, trauma, abuse, identity development, interpersonal relationships, PTSD, self-injury, self-regulation, and self-esteem building. I work well with highly motivated clients and will often times provide resources for work and reflection between sessions.

My ideal client is a person who is willing and ready to create profound change in their life. Through hypnosis, hypnotherapy techniques, and NLP, I assist clients with improving relationships, changing unwanted habits, letting go of fears, phobias, and anxious feelings, increasing their self-esteem, and helping them create a happy and fulfilling life. I am honored to help those who are ready to let go of unwanted beliefs and habits. Together, we will achieve lasting results that will improve your relationships, career, and other areas of your life.

Although we can't change difficult situations of the past, we can move toward greater self understanding and more fulfilling relationships in the present. I engage with you based on a relationship of two people coming together as equals within the safety of the therapeutic container. My focus is on interpersonal relationship, however, I include art, music, movement, play, and guided imagery as another means to connect with each other and to free the imagination for self discovery.

I rely on evidenced based interventions, often using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Interpersonal Psychotherapy to address depression, anxiety, sleep problems, low self-esteem, social isolation, PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder, and to manage Bipolar Disorder. I also work with students who are struggling emotionally with the goal of succeeding with school. I also work with older adults who are seeking to address distress, grief, transitions, relationship problems, and chronic health challenges. I provide Psychological Evaluations, ADHD evaluations, court assessments and required Fitness for Practice Evaluations.

At some point during the complex journey of life we all experience stuck points, emotional suffering, and sometimes an emotional crisis. It my deeply held belief, however, that we all have the innate ability to recover, heal and thrive. Providing an environment that facilitates healing and resilience is tremendously life-affirming work. I trust that each one of us has tremendous wisdom and strength. In partnership, we identify growth areas, goals, and strategies. Although it is essential that therapy is nurturing and nourishing, it is also hard work. I admire anyone who has the courage to push themselves out of their comfort zones.

My approach Integrative Psychotherapy draws primarily from Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Insight Meditation. It is my experience that people make changes in their lives in therapy when they feel appropriately supported and understood. This combined with awareness developed through mindfulness practices enables people to take the insights cultivated in therapy sessions and implement them in their lives. I see therapy as an opportunity to explore how our thoughts and perceptions about our life situations, determine the quality of how we experience our lives. Our self-perceptions developed throughout our lives, are often our greatest impediment to changing our lives.

Life's daily pressures can often leave us feeling as though we are constantly treading water, struggling to stay afloat. Whether it's conflicts at home, stress, relationship issues, high anxiety, feeling sad or disconnected, or simply a desire to feel more fulfilled, it's never easy to navigate these challenges alone. Together, we will explore these issues within a comfortable and supportive environment. We will work together to find ways to handle the stress, anxiety, or other not-so-great feelings that are stopping you from enjoying life.