Appalachian Life Enrichment Counseling Center

I knew from an early age as a high school student I wanted to get into a helping profession. When I began my classes in college in Social Work it all just clicked. I did my pre-social work volunteer hours in an emergency department volunteering and then shadowed a Clinical Social Worker in a hospital setting. This paved the way for me to become passionate about mental health and started my first journey in a hospital setting. For the last eight years I have focused on providing services in outpatient community programs such as an Intensive Outpatient Program and Partial Hospitalization Program as well as an Assertive Community Treatment Program. These experiences have instilled within me a desire to continue working in the community and with marginalized groups, but now in a practice setting.

I have fifteen years’ experience working in mental health and addictions at both a bachelors and masters level. I have provided therapy both working with inpatient and outpatient adolescents and adults. I have worked locally in these settings in West Virginia where the need for mental health and substance abuse treatment has been needed and necessary. I experienced grief at a young age which further strengthened my passion to help and be there for others who need to work on healing after experiencing difficult life changes. I feel everyone deserves to live the life they want to live and meeting goals they have by overcoming obstacles and hardships they have experienced. Whether you struggle with things from the past that fuel depression or worries for the future that raise anxiety, I want to empower you to put those at bay so you can live in and focus on the present. I am here to help you whether it is to re-discover yourself, heal, and cope or to help guide you in gaining the tools you need to succeed. I value the importance of having balance in life and giving yourself adequate “you” time and self-care. Whether you need help making “you” time and self-care a priority or just simply learning new ways to decrease and manage stress I will be here to support you in coming up with solutions to achieve an equilibrium.

My joys and loves are my husband, my two year old son and my black and white tuxedo cat. I cherish time outdoors in settings with sunshine, lush beautiful flowers, palm trees and my favorite place to regain positive energy is at the beach, just sitting and taking in the world around me. I am also an avid Mountaineer fan and enjoy watching the Mountaineers on the football field and basketball court.