Licensed Associate Professional Counselor

I am a clinician at our Fox Chapel clinic who provides therapy services!

The ideal client that I typically work with are youth who have trouble engaging within the community, school, and home. This client struggles with impulse control, racing thoughts, and self-soothing techniques. They also present physical aggression towards their peers, family, and other authority members. Depending on the client they may be diagnosed with numerous disorders such as ADHD, Conduct Disorder, ODD, maybe ASD, and the list continues. Typically, the client presents a behavioral disorder to where the law may be involved or they are close to heading towards that route. The client struggles with finding control within their thoughts and physical actions. Maybe they are more rigid than they would like to be, maybe they want to relieve stress and turn off intrusive thoughts. Throughout treatment we look at ways they could control their thoughts which in turn could lead to control of their impulses. What this client would like to have are a tool box of coping skills that they can turn to whenever they end of struggling with personal control. My job is to teach them and/or assist them in any way possible on how they could apply the things they learn in session which could be scenarios, active role plays, coping skills, and apply that to their actual living condition.

I am very flexible in the way I treated former clients. It is not my way or the highway type of relationship. Throughout session, I learn about the clients interests and what they enjoy doing and what may or may not help them in the home, school, or community. Based off of those answers, therapy is tailored based off of that. Not saying they will not be challenge with new ideas or new skills, but I build off of things that are already working some of the time for them. I am a huge wellness person (mental and physical). So do not be surprised if I throw in activities that the client could engage in for every season (indoors and outdoors). I enjoy icebreakers/games. Making session fun and engaging to keep someone interested in coming back is what is important. To me the working alliance is the big factor that helps clients succeed in their goals and to come back to therapy. So, having sessions that just involve talking is personally not just for me. I am straight forward when talking with clients, but I adjust depending on the client and the clients need. So, if me being straight forward is not the best approach, we will look at it from a different angle. We will always find a solution to the dilemma, consistency.

I want everyone to know that its not about their diagnosis or what people claim is wrong with them. We all struggle in an area of life. Some more than others, I believe there is always hope with the proper treatment plan, proper therapist, proper relationships, proper support throughout the home, school, and community there is hope. I am a huge athletics guy (which is why health and wellness is important), love music (which will take part in sessions depending on client), and enjoys having fun through activities. I can be introverted at times, so I understand what its like not to want to open up. So, I do not mind sitting back and building the relationship first before a client lets me in; however, I will challenge that client to step out of their comfort zone. Unfortunately, there is little to no growth if we do not step outside our comfort zone. So, lets experience how great we can be by being challenged. Also, the past is important, but the here and now is what’s more important to help you move forward and live a happy successful life with relationships and so on. So, the present and future is what will be the focus most of the time.