I started Heart Harbor Counseling to offer a safe, faith-informed space where people can pursue emotional healing, spiritual growth, and personal clarity. I believe you shouldn’t have to separate those parts of your identity to feel understood. My Christian faith is central to who I am and deeply informs the way I approach therapy—with compassion, integrity, humility, and hope. I believe Scripture offers both timeless truth and rich psychological insight, and I seek to reflect the grace and wisdom of Christ in the way I listen, care, and respond. Faith is not a side note in my work—it’s a foundational lens through which I view the dignity, complexity, and healing potential of every human being. The name Heart Harbor Counseling reflects the kind of work I believe in. A harbor is a place of safety—but it’s not the destination. It’s where ships pause to assess damage, make repairs, take on what they need, and prepare to head back into open water.

In the same way, I view therapy as a restorative space—a temporary refuge where healing and clarity take shape so you can return to your life more grounded, strengthened, and whole.

I hold a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where I was trained in an explicitly integrative model of Christian counseling. This model emphasizes the thoughtful application of biblical theology alongside clinical competence—encouraging counselors to work at the intersection of Scripture, psychological theory, and the realities of human suffering. It provided me with a foundation for thoughtfully integrating how biblical truth and emotional healing can work hand-in-hand. I also hold a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Counseling Psychology and a Master of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA). My doctoral dissertation, titled “Theology, Pastors, and Mental Illness: Patterns of Theological Beliefs and Rates of Depression and Anxiety in Evangelical Christian Clergy,” explored how deeply held theological beliefs influence emotional well-being, vulnerability, and mental health stigma among pastors—especially beliefs related to suffering, sin, and emotional honesty. That research continues to shape the way I support pastors and ministry leaders navigating burnout, spiritual conflict, and the weight of service.

Working with clergy is something I feel deeply called to and hope will continue to grow into a primary niche within my practice.

With advanced training in CBT, DBT, EMDR, REBT, and psychodynamic therapy, I blend evidence-based treatment with deep clinical insight and real-world experience. I bring subject matter expertise in areas such as trauma, co-occurring disorders, and organizational leadership. I regularly work with individuals navigating complex emotional and behavioral challenges as pastors, professionals, caregivers, and leaders balancing high personal and relational demands. My professional background includes executive leadership roles, including serving as CEO of a residential treatment center for youth. In that role, I led program development, staff training, and clinical oversight for a high-acuity population. This experience strengthened my skills in treating co-occurring disorders and sharpened my ability to lead, teach, and deliver care across settings.

I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, and identity-related issues. I’m particularly well-suited to work with high-functioning individuals who appear outwardly successful but privately struggle with shame, emotional exhaustion, or a persistent sense of disconnection. Many of the people I work with are leaders, professionals, or caregivers who feel stuck despite their capabilities. I help patients examine the emotional patterns and beliefs that may be contributing to their struggles and guide them toward healthier coping, greater insight, and long-term emotional clarity.

My approach to trauma is both structured and compassionate. I work with individuals who carry both clearly defined traumatic experiences and those who may have unrecognized wounds from past relationships, losses, or spiritual harm. Using EMDR and trauma-informed CBT, I support recovery through both practical tools and deeper relational healing. I also create space for those who want to explore how Christian faith intersects with emotional and relational health—whether that means integrating values and Scripture into treatment, or navigating religious wounds with care and honesty. This reflects the foundation of my training at Gordon-Conwell, where I was taught to approach counseling through the dual lens of biblical theology and clinical excellence. My integrative approach stands in clear contrast to nouthetic or ‘biblical-only’ counseling models, which I believe often minimize the psychological complexity of human suffering. Rather than relying on rebuke or reductionist interpretations of Scripture, I was trained to work thoughtfully at the intersection of theology, emotional depth, and real-world clinical skill—offering care that is spiritually grounded, psychologically informed, and genuinely restorative.

My therapy style is warm, grounded, and direct. I strive to create a space where patients feel heard and respected, but also challenged when needed. I often compare the therapy relationship to that of a skilled coach—supportive but honest, with a commitment to growth. I listen deeply, ask targeted questions, and hold patients accountable to their goals. Many people tell me they appreciate my ability to blend calm presence with clinical precision.

The first session is focused on gaining a clear understanding of your concerns and goals. I listen carefully while asking thoughtful questions about current stressors, history, patterns, and treatment preferences. Together, we’ll outline initial goals, setting the stage for work that is both emotionally grounded and goal-oriented. Therapy with me is collaborative: you can expect to reflect between sessions, try new strategies, and receive ongoing feedback. While I don’t assign homework in a formal sense, many patients find that continuing reflection, practicing new strategies, and building self-awareness between sessions deepens the work we do together.

Let me be clear—therapy is hard work. It can be uncomfortable, bring up unexpected emotions, or stir things you’d rather avoid. Some sessions may feel challenging or unsettling, and I respect the courage it takes to continue showing up. I’m not the best fit for individuals seeking passive validation, avoidance of hard topics, or purely venting-based therapy without change. I also do not provide therapy for unmanaged psychosis, active eating disorders, or severe substance use unless you are concurrently engaged in treatment elsewhere.

Licensure, Telehealth, and Nationwide Support

I maintain licensure in multiple states—including Iowa, California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, North Carolina, and South Carolina—and I’m authorized to provide telehealth services to residents of Vermont. While some patients prefer to meet with a provider in their local area, telehealth opens the door to work with someone uniquely positioned to support your needs. My background spans clinical expertise, executive leadership, public policy, and Christian theology—a combination that allows me to offer a level of integrative care that’s hard to find.

In addition to therapy, I also provide consultation and strategic guidance to providers and organizations—including churches, nonprofits, and ministry teams. I can assist with navigating complex cases, responding to crises, supporting staff well-being, addressing burnout, and fostering emotionally healthy leadership cultures grounded in both theology and clinical wisdom. I bring extensive experience in crisis response—both acute and systemic—ranging from individual interventions to organizational stabilization and debriefing. This allows me to support not just ongoing wellness, but also moments of high stress and disruption with calm, clarity, and competence.

This broader scope of work allows me to help not only individuals, but also the systems and communities they serve. Much of my work with pastors to this point has been volunteer-based, born out of a deep conviction that those who are caring for others often go without care themselves. Through telehealth, I’m now able to extend that same depth of support more consistently and sustainably—offering care that integrates clinical depth and spiritual sensitivity. I am currently in the process of expanding services to Texas, Florida, and Michigan as well.

What success looks like in therapy depends on your goals, but common outcomes include greater self-awareness, stronger boundaries, healthier relationships, and increased emotional regulation. Many patients report feeling more grounded, less reactive, and more aligned with their values. My hope is that successful therapy helps you move from surviving to living with greater clarity, confidence, and internal freedom. For me, therapy is not just a clinical process—it is also a sacred trust. I view it as a space where transformation can happen with honesty, grace, and the courage to grow. If you’re looking for a space that welcomes both your story and your soul, your pain and your purpose—I’d be honored to walk that path with you.