I have been a social worker for more than 13 years and a therapist for 10. The majority of my experience and training is related to treating and advocating for survivors of child abuse, sexual abuse/assault, and relationship violence. I have also worked with families in danger of losing their children to CPS (Child Protective Services), adolescents struggling with addictions and /or involved with the juvenile justice system, and adolescents and adults struggling with extreme emotional difficulties.
I received my Master’s degree in Social Work from Saint Louis University with an emphasis on Social Justice. I received my Bachelor’s degree from Bradley University with a double major in Social Work and Sociology and a minor in Psychology. While I learned a great deal through my education, I believe I have learned the most through my own life journey and joining others on theirs.
I created Courageous Journeys in 2007 with a desire to provide a safe, empathic place for survivors of trauma to heal through individual and group therapy. While I see clients with many different issues, I specialize in working with adults abused as children (emotional, sexual, physical, and neglect), survivors of sexual assault, and people who are or have been involved in domestic violence relationships (includes emotional, physical, psychological, and financial abuse).
Additional areas of treatment include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Grief/Loss
- Relationship difficulties
- Personality disorders
- Women’s issues
After starting Courageous Journeys, I soon realized the need to continue to raise awareness within the community on issues related to sexual abuse/assault and domestic violence. This reignited my passion for advocacy and education. As a result, I created educational and training programs for members of the community and for professionals who inevitably work with survivors of trauma. The community presentations help the general public understand the reality of how many people are affected by these issues, signs & symptoms, the impact, and that help is available. The professional trainings are designed to educate those who work with survivors in various ways; counselors, law enforcement, medical professionals, child protection, addictions, etc. on the importance in identifying a history of trauma to best serve the individual. Too many times I have seen a survivor identified as being resistant to treatment or given varying psychiatric diagnosis’, when the problem is often an underlying history that continues to impact their decisions and behavior.