About
Education:
- BA from Kuyper College, Grand Rapids, MI
- MA in Counseling from Cornerstone University/Grand Rapids Theological Seminary Grand Rapids, MI
In a warm, welcoming setting I serve individuals, couples, and families who desire to make changes to improve their relationships as well as decrease stress, anxiety, and depression. In this safe, non-judgmental setting, I provide practical methods that help you manage reactivity, improve communication, and increase emotional security in relationships.
Why I Became a Professional Christian Therapist
I feel called to this ministry to serve God's people by providing individual, couples, and family therapy. I serve clients in many ways, using individualized techniques that I feel will work the best for the individual in addition to Gottman Method Couples Training (Levels 1-3), CBT and others.
My Philosophy of Therapy
I believe that therapy benefits everyone not just those in crisis. Many people feel that they don’t need therapy, but everyone goes through challenging times and while you may have successfully worked through other difficulties you’ve faced, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you’re at in life and making a commitment to change the situation through therapy. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome the challenges you face.
In therapy, not only do get the undivided attention of someone focusing exclusively on you, but your therapist can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and creative blocks, etc.. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous asset to managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marriage issues, and the hassles of daily life. Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
Developing communication and listening skills for improving your relationships
Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to therapy
Learning new ways to copy with stress and anxiety and managing anger, grief, depression and other emotional pressures
Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones to solve problems in your family, marriage, and relationships
Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
How do I Provide Therapy for you?
Whether you are going through a major life transition or are not handling stressful circumstances well, you may need assistance. I provide a custom-selected personal approach that I believe is best suited for you in a comfortable, safe, and non-judgmental environment. Because each person is unique, has different issues and goals, I provide encouragement and help with skills to get them through these periods. This approach, where you are heard, valued, and understood will help you learn more about yourself, be more effective with your goals, meet the challenges of life, and help equip you to make the changes you desire.
In sessions, depending on your goals, you may expect to discuss what is happening currently in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress for any new insights gained from the previous session. Depending on your needs, therapy can be short term, for a specific issue, or longer term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for a more personal development. It is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly). How actively you participate in the process will also determine your results as the purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in session, I may suggest that you do activities outside of therapy to support your progress – reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action steps on your goals. People seeking therapy ar
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