MS, LPC, RPT
Dallas, Texas Therapist Specializing in Tots and Teens, Child Therapy, Play Therapy, Activity Therapy, Parent Support, and Coaching
From an early age, my curiosity of the human mind and behavior led me to develop empathy, compassion, and a deep commitment for serving young children, teenagers and their families or caregivers, guiding them through difficult experiences and problem-solving together as a team. Though my professional career started as a Kindergarten teacher, I quickly realized that my heart was less focused on academic growth and more passionately focused on ensuring the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of my students.
Working from an Adlerian framework, I find great joy in the ability to support a child within the realm of their environment – home, school, and community – to best understand their unique self. I use play therapy to understand young children and their world from a developmentally-appropriate, play-based perspective that is fun! With adolescents, I combine a mixture of solution-focused therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy to provide an activity-based approach that is comfortable and safe.
I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Education (EC-6th Grade), and later pursued my Masters of Science in Counseling from Southern Methodist University with a specialization in Play Therapy. Over the past decade, I have worked as a counselor in a variety of nonprofit, school settings, including Uplift Education, Cristo Rey Dallas, and Momentous Institute.
I work primarily with “tots and teens” (ages 3-7 and 13-18) and their caregivers on concerns including anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavior intervention and support, executive functioning skills, healthy limit setting, life transitions and adjustment. Additionally, I enjoy supporting caregivers in navigating the special education process in schools, such as a child’s IEP, 504 Plan, or ARD meeting.
I’m married to my college sweetheart, who happens to be an incredible husband and father. We have three children who keep us on our toes and continue to humble us as parents. Additionally, we have a dog named Birdie and multiple chickens in our backyard. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time outdoors at a park, on a walk, or in my backyard with my friends and family.
I am available for speaking engagements in the school systems for educators, parents, and students. I enjoy talking about healthy boundaries, self-care and self-compassion, how to talk with children about difficult topics, and how to have critical conversations with key stakeholders. To contact me directly, please fill out the email form below.
My rate is $150 for a 45-minute play therapy session or individual session; $240 for an 80-minute parent consultation or family session. Texas Licensed Professional Counselor (License #: 77084).. Click here to request an appointment.
A quote that resonates with me:
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. -- Maya Angelou