Dear Future Clients,
Looking for a therapist? These words should come to mind: CARING, COMPETENT, COMPASSIONATE, COURTEOUS, CONFIDENT, NON-JUDGMENTAL, ACCEPTING, and FLEXIBLE. These are just a few of my best qualifications when working with clients of all ages, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and those who demonstrate multiple issues. So, let me tell you a bit about myself.
I began my professional career as a teacher, because I loved working with students and families. I wanted to make a change in the world, by helping others learn and gain acceptance by all. Discovering that students come from all different, diversified backgrounds and multiple family situations, I continued my studies and became a Behavioral Specialist. So many educators were diagnosing and labeling students. I found this disturbing as I believe that no child is born evil, stupid, crazy, or bad. Rather, I believe individuals are affected by the family and environmental systems of which they are members. Therefore, I continued my studies in the field of Family Systemic Therapy and completed my degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida. I began working as a Licensed Family Therapist in the Florida School Systems, Church Programs and Private Practice. I utilize the method of therapy which best suits the clientele. Some of these include but are not limited to Client-Centered, Solution Focused, Narrative, Play, Brief Strategical, Problem-Solving and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies.
My career experiences opened my eyes to the many diversified situations that children, teens, adults, and families are exposed to each and every day. Something new always pops up and seems to shake up a person’s life, and you just need someone to listen and understand the situations that are affecting your life. As an Educator, Behavioral Specialist and a Licensed Family Therapist, I have worked with many different clients. No problem is too big or too small.
My degrees are a Bachelors of Arts in Education and French, and a Masters in Science in the field of Family Therapy. My Professional Teaching Certificate includes Endorsements in working with ESOL (English as a Second Language) individuals, Gifted or Highly Gifted Individuals, Specific Learning Disabilities, and Multiple Behavioral Disorders. I have over 30 years of Professional Experience.
I myself grew up in a large Irish-German, Catholic family with five sisters where perfection was expected. This caused many internal family issues, which I now understand because of my training. Also, my mother was an orphan who grew up in a New York City Orphanage before being placed in a loving foster home. Yet, the family did not want to adopt her and thus she suffered from anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy for her entire life. She also struggled with alcoholism and I was given the responsibility to care for my dear mother and wait for her to come home when she walked out in the middle of the night. I learned compassion at an early age and knew I always wanted to help others either in the Peace Corps or here in the United States. My mother’s foster family spoke French and thus I majored in French in college, studying at Immaculata University in Pennsylvania, Laval University in Quebec, Canada and study abroad programs in Paris, and Normandy, France.
Now, I am a mother of three married adult children, grandmother to seven beautiful grandkids, and wife of 46 years to a wonderful husband. However, I suffered from Depression and Generalized Anxiety, after the birth of my second child. Of course, everyone told me to “Just Get Over It.” Luckily, I found a wonderful psychiatrist of Indian descent who changed my life forever. In fact, my kind, qualified psychiatrist encouraged me to further my studies and become a Family Therapist……and that is where I am today.
If you are touched by my story and feel I could help you, it would be my pleasure and honor to be your therapist. While I do speak French, because there are so many different dialects, all my sessions are in English. However, we can use French when a certain word(s) gets us stuck, so we can use French-English. Thank you for taking the time to read my Profile. I would love to work with you, because YOU are important to me.