I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the State of Maine. I specialize in treating anxiety and depression, relationship and grief issues, as well as substance use and co-occurring disorders. I have been treating substance use for 18 years and have a passion for treating this issue that so many people face. Everyday I am amazed and often inspired by the strength and motivation that I witness people channel in the face of adversity, judgment and often powerful disease.
It became abundantly clear to me in my earlier years of treating substance use that mental health issues often go hand in hand. I entered Graduate School, in part, so that I could treat these issues simultaneously. I also really liked the idea that this could reduce the need for patients to find multiple providers – one to treat substance use, one to treat mental health. 14 years ago, I obtained my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and have been practicing since this time. My experience in this field has given me an appreciation of the degree to which depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction and other conditions can impact a person’s, as well as family’s, life. I fully believe that we all have the potential to grow and make positive changes in our lives and am honored to be present during this process for each and every person that I sit with.
Sadness, anxiety and anger are all normal emotions of the human experience, just as feeling happy or relaxed are. We can run into trouble when the balance between our emotions is lost. At times, difficult emotions can feel so intense that they begin to interfere with daily life. Going to work, taking care of children, getting together with friends, engaging in hobbies…normal everyday tasks seem to take more energy and motivation than you can seem to give. Things that used to feel normal can suddenly feel overwhelming. For some, these difficult emotions may have impacted your life for as long as you can remember.