About Me

I am a licensed professional counselor specializing in the integration of spirituality and psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups. I maintain a private practice in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

I have over 36 years experience in the human services field working extensively in the areas of social work, community mental health, developmental disabilities, and lay ministry. I currently serve as a private practitioner working with a broad range of issues and clients.

My areas of interest include:

• Integrating psychotherapy, spirituality, and the arts
• Women's issues
• Women in ministry
• Group work
• Workshops and retreats
• Supporting individuals with intellectual challenges and their families
• Children and adolescents
• Trauma survivors
• Abortion
• Couples
• Families
• Body image issues
• Midlife concerns
• Life transitions
• Spirituality and faith concerns
• Experiential work
• Dream work
• Sand tray therapy
• Pastoral care and counseling

My therapeutic approach is to provide safe space and support for individuals of all ages and abilities to help them discover the answers within themselves to create the meaningful lives they desire. I integrate psychodynamic, existentialist, and Jungian approaches in assisting clients in finding a healthy sense of self in relation to themselves, others, and the Spirit. I integrate complementary methodologies and techniques and and offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each person.

It is my goal to help each person find and claim the gifts they were given to make the world a better place.

I work with each individual with compassion and understanding to help them build on their strengths and gifts to attain the personal growth they are seeking and committed to accomplishing.

Education

• Certificate of Studies in Depth Psychology, Harrisonburg, VA
• MA in Counseling with an emphasis in Pastoral Counseling from Eastern Mennonite University , Harrisonburg, VA
• Bachelors of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, VA

Licenses, Certifications & Awards

• Recipient of the Laymon H. and Ruth S. Lantz Scholarship Fund, a scholarship established for the training of pastors and counselors.
• Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Virginia
• Qualified Mental Retardation Professional with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
• Certified Prepare/Enrich Premarital Counselor
• Certified Residential Support Provider with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
• Recipient of the Laymon H. and Ruth S. Lantz scholarship through the Community Foundation recognizing excellence in education for a student in the graduate counseling or seminary programs at Eastern Mennonite University
• Who's Who of American Women

Additional Training and Workshops Attended

2013-2014 Studies in Depth Psychology III: Living Consciously. Dr. Helen Anderson and Dr. Richard Anderson.
2013 Fate and Destiny. Dr Helen Anderson and Dr. Richard Anderson
2013 The Sixth Sense. Dr. Helen Anderson and Dr. Richard Anderson
2012-2013 Dreams and the Symbolic Process: Embodying the Dream. Dr. Helen Anderson and Dr. Richard Anderson
2012-2013 Studies in Depth Psychology II: Growing Together in Relationship. Dr. Helen Anderson and Dr. Richard Anderson
2012 Narrative as Healing. Eastern Mennonite University. Dr. Helen Anderson and Dr. Richard Anderson
2010-2012 Studies in Depth Psychology I: Growing Down: The Language of the Soul and Growing Out: Into the World. Eastern Mennonite University with Dr. Helen Benoit
2010 Archetypal Journey, Eastern Mennonite University with Dr. Helen Benoit
2009 Clinical Supervision in Virginia sponsored by VCA, VACE, VCCA, and Virginia Tech Counselor Ed Program
2009 Eastern Mennonite University Continuing Education

• Facilitating Enduring Bonds with Couples
• Working with Co-Occurring Disorders
• The Age of Anxiety: Stress, Reactivity, and Relationships
• Modern Mindfulness
• Psychotherapy and Neurogenesis
• Motivational Interviewing

2008 AAPC National Conference Expanding Visions: Theological and Spiritual Perspectives in Practice

• Imaginative Contemplation and Clinical Practice
• Integrating Spirituality and Psychotherapy: Releasing the Client’s Self
• Spiritually-oriented Approaches to Psychotherapy: The Dangers of Theological Naivete
• Making a Vision a Reality: An Innovative Practice Model for Pastoral Counseling Center
• Working with a Small Practice

2008 School for Leadership Training , Eastern Mennonite University: Embodying Sexual Wholeness in a Broken World:

• Negotiating Singleness and Sexuality
• Negotiating the Young Adult Sexual Landscape

2207 AAPC Fall Conference: Children of Abraham: Listening on the Boundaries

• Healing the Wounds: Pastoral Approaches to Self-Injurious Behaviors
• Religious Subcultures in a Therapeutic, Anti-cultural Age
• An Introduction to Islam
• Listening on the Boundary: Reactivity and Holy Envy
• Introduction to Judaism
• Beyond Denominations and Faiths: Pastoral Counseling Contribution to 21 ^st Century Cultural Paradigms

Ethical Standards and Dual Relationships, Virginia Center for Ethical Practice

Structural Family Therapy

2006 AAPC Atlantic Region Fall Conference : Forgiveness and Healing

• Pastoral Supervision: Presentation of Clinical and Theological Integration as Key to Pastoral Formation
• The Faithful Struggle to Forgive: Why Forgiveness?
• Toward the Development of a Pastoral Soul: Reflections on Identity and Theological Education

Child Abuse in Family Emotional Process

Bowen Family System Workshop

Treating the Whole Couple: Individual Therapy in Relationship Counseling

2005 AAPC Atlantic Region Fall Conference: Humor: Pathway to Transformation

• In the Beginning Was the Word; Before That, There Was Laughter
• The Therapeutic Fruit of Laughter: Historical, Theological and Physiological Roots of Comedy
• The Use of Humor and Wit in the Pastoral Counseling Hour
• Humor and Wit in Oppressive Systems: Stories and Their Use in Therapy

Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples: Creating Lasting Connection

Use of Metaphor in Counseling

Ethical Decision Making

2004 AAPC Atlantic Region Conference: Original Wholeness: Healing From Shame

• Sanctity and Sanity: An Object Relations Approach to Spiritual Lives
• Yearning at the Well: Shame and Healing from Shame
• The Use of Action Methods and Body Techniques to Combat Shame
• Honest to God: Shame and Human Dignity in the Psalms and Prophets
  

Play Therapy: History, Theory, and Technique

Additional listing of workshops and training available upon request.

Professional Activities and Memberships

American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC)
Secretary, Atlantic Region AAPC
Interfaith Alliance
Virginia Counseling Association
American Counseling Association
National Organization of Women
Southern Poverty Law Center
Board Member: Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board: 1999-2002
ARC of Virginia
Virginia Mennonite Conference Delegate 2005-2007
Mennonite Church USA Delegate 2005-2007