who I am

I am currently located in Charlotte, NC and have met and continue to hold in good standing the designation of Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) which, as of January 1, 2020, has been permanently changed to Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) by the newly named North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NCBLCMHC), my governing licensing board. I am certified in trauma-informed care as a Certified Incident Stress Management (CISM) professional. I specialize in relationships counseling in continuing an ongoing, professional, online post-graduate training in the Bowen Family Systems theoretical approach with the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington DC. Previously, I worked in the mental health recovery movement in Texas as Peer Training Coordinator for Via Hope. 

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Personally, I have been married over 35 years and have ridden the waves of infatuation, disillusionment and joy which are real in every marriage. We raised our two sons together in a home where we attempted to create a loving, supportive atmosphere, but, as in any home, were certainly not perfect. I am also a ten-year breast cancer survivor living with the residual affects of treatment, although I am currently cancer-free.

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Other experiences I have which influence my work is crisis training as a commissioned Stephen's Minister followed by 10 years volunteer work in crisis support ministry, 4 years as a Pastoral Cares associate at Austin Christian Fellowship, Level I Gottman training, previous membership in the American Association of Christian Counseling (AACC), 10 years participating in leading internationally recognized couple's marriage weekends and 12+ years of study and leadership in the non-denominational Bible Study Fellowship (BSF).