Healing Ways Counseling Intern

Difficulties are abundant in our world. Our very place in it can be mystifying and confusing, leaving us with questions like Why Me? or What do I do?

 

I am not a person that answers these questions for you, but a person that believes everyone in the world has the power to find their own answers and confidently lead a life worth living with the proper support. In a world that is quick to judge and label people, I find fulfilment in understanding a person wholly, in context of their world but also in context of our own relationship. I want to be a journeyman alongside you – free of judgment or assumption.

 

I have dedicated my life to becoming a therapist since my undergraduate journey at Iowa State University. In 2019, I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy, and have since been a student at Drake University, working on a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I am now in the final stage of my education, working as an Intern. Becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) is my top priority at this point in my life, and it makes me proud to be able to work with Jeanne and Rich at Healing Ways Counseling.

 

My view of counseling is that the correct theoretical orientation to use is the one that works best for the client. I have a foundation in counseling Client-centered and Existential Psychotherapy, which is a fancy way of saying that I want to help people find reasons to live happily despite life’s troubles. I also have special interest in Existentialism’s intersections with Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Further, I take careful consideration of the context of a person’s life outside of therapy and will advocate for understanding the importance of material conditions and their impact on mental health.

 

Outside of counseling, I am usually spending time with my family and our dogs Pippin (Husky) and Teddy (Welsh Corgi), being involved in community art events and music festivals, reading philosophy, engaging in hobbies and games with my friends, and bass fishing at Saylorville Lake.