I have lived and worked in Western North Carolina for the better part of the last 23 years and am committed to having a counseling practice that benefits individuals, families and the community that I live in.
Prior to the last decade in private practice, I worked for thirteen years with highly traumatized and very low resourced populations. These thirteen years included wilderness, residential treatment, therapeutic foster care, day treatment, and intensive in home settings. I worked full time in these settings while simultaneously obtaining my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling.
I have received training in the theory and practice of modern psychoanalysis but identify more broadly as a relationally psychoanalytically informed psychotherapist. Relational psychoanalysis aims to heal and integrate relational trauma through safe and containing relationship in treatment.
I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Experiential Education at Prescott College. I hold a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling and full licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor in the State of NC. I have received further psychoanalytic training through the Modern Psychoanalytic training program offered through the Philadelphia School Of Psychoanalysis and am in the process of pursuing the Psychoanalytic Certification through the Colorado Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies. Psychoanalytic training requires years of intensive coursework in addition to one’s own analysis and psychoanalytic supervision.
I have received and continue to receive psychoanalytic supervision from Dr. Stephen Ellis M.S.W., B.C.D., Ph.D., NCPsy.A. Dr. Stephen Ellis is the former Executive Director of the Philadelphia School of Psychoanalysis and studied with Dr. Gerald Lucas at the Institute for Modern Psychoanalysis in New York City. He also participated in Training Groups with Dr. Hyman Spotnitz, founder of the Modern Psychoanalytic approach to psychotherapy.
I am currently facilitating Psychoanalytically Informed continuing education and consultation opportunities in Asheville through Asheville Analytic Thought.