Therapy for individuals who may be struggling with:

Bright Flower

Together we will find an effective approach.

Therapy for Anger Management

When is anger a problem for you? What situations tend to elicit angry responses? What are the consequences of angry outbursts? Can you identify any feelings or emotions just beneath the surface of the anger? These are a few examples of questions I would like to explore with you in your effort to gain a better understanding of your anger. I will also present, and assist you in finding, anger management strategies aimed at minimizing the negative impact of unchecked anger when it shows up in your life. Healthy expressions of anger are possible and within your reach.

Therapy for Anxiety and Panic

Anxiety is a normal part of life, but if you feel anxiety prevents you from truly engaging with life then it’s time to get help. One of the most common ways we tend to cope with anxiety is through avoidance. If we avoid what makes us anxious then we don’t have to feel and experience the difficult thoughts and physical sensations that often accompany anxiety. This can seem like a good plan on the surface but sometimes our avoidance comes at a price. Avoidance can also be insidious and show up in different ways outside our awareness, including procrastination, isolation or substance abuse. Working with anxiety involves learning how to come out of sympathetic nervous system activation by engaging the part of the nervous system which promotes relaxation and calm. It also involves looking at thoughts and the way we are responding to thoughts. There are many different ways to achieve this and I look forward to discussing them with you.

Therapy for Depression

Depression is more than just sadness. It is often accompanied by a sense of hopelessness, various physical complaints, disruptions in patterns of sleep, changes in appetite, a loss of enjoyment in life, and feelings of worthlessness. If you believe you are experiencing depression, it is important to be evaluated and seek treatment. The way I work with depression is highly individualized but our initial work is focused on providing relief from symptoms and restoring a sense of hope for the future. In beginning your work with depression it’s important to understand that you can get better, even when it seems all hope is lost.

Therapy for Grief & Loss

At some point in life we will each be confronted with grief and loss. When this happens you may feel profound sadness or experience disbelief, guilt, anger and even resentment. You may notice yourself shifting and cycling through different emotions, only to return to them again at a later time. The grief process is not linear and it is deeply personal. In working with grief and loss I appreciate the uniqueness of your individual journey and I will tailor counseling strategies to meet your individual needs.

Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress, Stress Overload and Stress Management

Our bodies are exquisitely programmed to maintain homeostasis (balance) and ideally we are successful in achieving this, but sometimes we have stressful life circumstances that disrupt this delicate balance. When the stress response is activated repeatedly as in chronic stress, or by a single event which is too overwhelming for us to process, problems can begin to arise. We may feel irritable, anxious and depressed, have problems with focus and concentration, notice various physical complaints/illness, have fatigue, experience hyper-arousal and become hypersensitive within our environment,  or even shut down completely. We may find ourselves abusing substances, including caffeine, alcohol or illicit drugs in an attempt to restore balance. Not understanding what is happening, we may begin to feel exhausted, helpless and hopeless, forming negative beliefs about ourselves and doubting our self-efficacy.

In general, when working with stress management, including post-traumatic stress, there are typically lifestyle changes which need to be made to help restore balance within your entire system. These changes may include minor or major tweaks to your diet, sleep hygiene and exercise plan in addition to forming other healthy self-care habits. Additionally, we can explore relaxation, meditation, mindfulness, breathing practices, and restorative yoga to help support activation of the parasympathetic nervous system and shift your body into an ideal state for self-repair and healing. Stabilization is the first step. Together, we will explore your current life stressors and and come up with a plan to help you move forward. I also want you to have numerous resources during your journey so referrals to other healthcare providers and healers within the community will be offered when appropriate/upon request.

Individual Therapy for Relationship Problems

Good communication, healthy boundaries, assertiveness, the capacity to give and receive love, flexibility, patience, trust, understanding, empathy – these are just a few of the qualities needed to form and maintain healthy relationships. Our very first relationship, the one we experienced with our primary caregiver(s), laid the foundation for our attachment style and influences and all other relationships we develop throughout our lives. These relationships include the ones we are in with family, our spouse/partner, our child(ren), our friends and even our supervisors/managers and co-workers. Maybe you find yourself struggling with some of these relationships. Maybe you are seeking deeper insight into why you tend to respond and interact with others in the way you do. Maybe you are looking to resolve conflict or learn new interpersonal relationship skills. Whatever the relationship issues may be, I am happy to explore them with you.

Therapy for Substance Abuse/Addiction

If you are struggling with substance abuse and addiction you are certainly not alone. Whether you are court-ordered to complete a treatment program or you are seeking it out all on your own, I can help. I offer substance abuse counseling, including level 1 outpatient treatment, from a compassionate, nonjudgmental and trauma-informed perspective. Please contact me for more information about my substance abuse and addiction services.

Substance Abuse Evaluations

For the evaluation of substance use disorders, I utilize the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), which is a semi-structured interview for substance abuse assessment and treatment planning. The ASI is preferred and accepted by the Nebraska criminal justice system. My evaluations are affordable, thorough and highly individualized. We will often need up to three hours together in order to complete an evaluation so please plan accordingly.