My goal as a therapist is to partner with my clients to help them improve their quality of life. I am a licensed mental health counselor, a certified school counselor, and have been trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an empirically supported treatment for victims of trauma. With over twenty years of experience working in school, agency, and private practice settings, I have extensive familiarity with diverse populations of children, adolescents, and adults. Using a client-centered approach to counseling and therapy, I want my clients to feel supported, empowered, and encouraged to take an active role in their treatment.
Life has a way of keeping us on our toes. Like many others, I have experienced unexpected loss, challenges, and obstacles that have ignited a passion for helping others. I am open, down to earth, and have a geeky sense of humor. I am LGBTQ+ knowledgeable, antiracist, and highly value diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Many years ago, I learned about the Bodhi tree, and the symbolism resonated with me deeply. The Buddha (sometimes called “the enlightened one”) lived 2,500 years ago. Born a prince, he abandoned luxury when he became aware of the suffering of life. For six years he lived a life of poverty, and nearly died of hunger. Yet, he could not resolve human misery. Then he sat under a fig tree. He remained there for 49 days. When he stood, he thanked the tree for giving him shade, and it was then that he achieved enlightenment. The tree became known as the Bodhi tree – the “tree of enlightenment”.
Also called “the tree of awakening”, the Bodhi tree represents life, sorrow, and desire. The tree is seen as a metaphor for the journey to enlightenment, and its leaves are heart shaped. As the seed of the Bodhi tree matures and flourishes, so should the heart.
This is my goal: to be a steady support for clients on their journeys so they continue to flourish, thrive, and grow.
The stress from living can become overwhelming at times. But, this is not necessarily negative, in fact it is an opportunity for growth. Troubling thoughts and emotions are signs that something in your life is out of balance and needs to be addressed. By seeking help and exploring the patterns in your life, you have the ability to not only lessen your suffering, but become stronger and more resilient in the process.
As a therapist, I want to create a partnership with you, where you can feel free exploring your thoughts and feelings. I take a holistic approach to treating patients. I believe that every aspect of a person’s life is important and will affect one’s experience of the world. Everything from diet and physical activity to the inner world of emotions and beliefs has a tremendous effect on your experience and should be taken into account.
I utilize a broad range of techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and motivational interviewing, but all of these techniques are informed by the principals of Jungian analytical psychology. I have experience working in private practice and community mental health settings with a wide range of patients and issues. I want to help you gain self-knowledge so that you can reach your full potential and not be controlled by negative and self-destructive thoughts feelings.
Helping others meet their wellness goals is a passion of mine, and I believe everyone deserves to be heard and valued. Having worked in service fields for most of my adult life, the transition to counseling was a natural progression for me.
I am excited to work with individuals in one-on-one counseling as well as in a group setting. Over the last three years I have worked extensively with individuals battling obesity, binge eating disorder and food addiction and something that I have learned is that guilt and shame are roadblocks that prevent us from moving forward.
I am currently a graduate student at Mercy College working towards my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling where I have been educated in many therapeutic theories including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Feminist Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy. I am here to listen to your struggles, successes, fears and beliefs without judgement in a safe, supportive environment.
Sessions charged on a sliding scale. Contact Julie for more information.
$65 per session
$35 per session
