Offering couples therapy intensives in Cincinnati, Ohio
Personally Speaking
I have always been fascinated by people who could play the piano because it seemed like such a mysterious instrument. No one in my family played music so I did not grow up around one.
Then I met my husband who is a talented piano player. I liked watching his hands move around the keyboard. I wanted to do the same.
Despite years of training, my hands do not move over the keys like my husband’s! However, I am determined to keep learning.
My husband and I are currently empty nesters. This is my second marriage. Between the two of us, we have four children, three boys and one girl. Our children are each one year apart and live close by.
I understand the challenges couples face, especially in blended families, because I lived in one. I think sometimes it can be too easy to walk away because things aren’t working out, especially given the pressures on blended families. I appreciate my spouse’s commitment to our relationship.
I feel strongly that there are things couples can do to stay and grow together. I’ve found that a commitment to the relationship is key to working through problems that crop up along the way.
In relationships, it can take tireless love and effort when a member of your family is at a low point in their lives. I thank my friends who were there to support me and had faith in me when I did not. My biggest supporter, however, remains my husband.
Office
My office is located in Cincinnati, Ohio in a suburb called Sharonville. It is right off of I-275 which makes it convenient to get to. It is a comfortable space. Much thanks to my son’s girlfriend who helped me decorate!
Hobbies
We really enjoy spending time with our adult children and their significant others.
I like to read, play the piano, travel, spend time with friends, hang out with my dog, and play golf.
I would say my love of reading and spending time with my dog, Cooper, are my two favorite pastimes!
I have always loved to read; I find it to be a wonderful escape. I especially enjoy mysteries interwoven with a good romance.
Cooper is such a source of comfort and relaxation. I call him my own personal therapy dog!
Practice Values
When a couple comes into my office and they don’t want to talk to one another, I work to build bridges to help them start communicating again. I don’t “gang up” on anyone. Both need to feel their voice matters and that they are important. That is where I begin.
Couples have to
Couples have to believe that a therapist is invested. If the couple senses that the therapist does not believe in their relationship, they will likely follow the therapist’s lead. I believe that you can work better, regardless of how hopeless you feel.
You will recognize, “We can do things differently. We can change the way we communicate!”
There’s this “ah ha” moment when you understand you’ve misinterpreted something. A lot of tension gets defused. It’s the beginning of reconnecting and coming back together.
It seems obvious, but the biggest hurdle couples face is learning to communicate well. I help couples learn to really listen to their partner and understand things from their perspective. It makes all the difference in a successful marriage.
As time goes on and life gets busy, true communication gets more difficult while being even more essential. You can practice and learn to overcome this challenge.
Are you willing to work on yourself? It is normal when feelings are hurt to point the finger at the other person and blame them for what’s not working.
You’ll learn that self-improvement benefits the relationship. You’ll both learn to become less defensive and more open to sharing your feelings.
You may not know what you were doing that contributed to poor communication. I don’t expect you to. Over the weekend intensive, you’ll learn how to correct those problematic behaviors. You will also learn new ways to communicate and express yourself. You’ll gain confidence in doing so from a place of love and understanding, rather than from anger or frustration.
One thing my clients truly appreciate about me is that I hold them accountable for their behavior without making them feel judged. This helps them focus on the changes they need to make without fear of recrimination and puts some positivity into the dynamic.
I do ask couples seeking marriage therapy with me to accept some basic ground rules around communicating with respect. There may be arguing, but there cannot be name calling or swearing at each other. I ask them to focus on what they are truly trying to express. Next, I encourage them both to be willing to work during the session as well as in between sessions to practice the new skills they are learning.
Be ready to challenge existing perspectives and beliefs. See old habits and patterns you are both stuck in and change them. It’s about self-awareness and doing things differently to have a positive affect on the relationship. We practice listening and, at first, I may point out a different perspective or help provide clarification.
You both can move forward knowing yourself and your partner better. And it can happen over a weekend!
Work Summary
I am a licensed professional clinical counselor or LPCC. In a nutshell, that means I am licensed to help people deal with emotional and mental health issues.
Helping people develop healthy coping and communication skills is important to me. I can see how these skills improve my client’s lives. I have seen, time and time again, my clients grow in self-confidence and pride.
I received my undergraduate degree in business from Miami University. I worked in Human Resources for about 5 years then stayed home full time to raise my two boys. Counseling became my second career.
Clinically, I have worked with just about every population including children and adolescents, the elderly and nursing home residents, adults, college-aged students, and military personnel. When I decided to go into private practice, I chose to specialize in couples work.
My first introduction to couples counseling came through working as an individual therapist. I had a client who was struggling to connect with his wife. She agreed to come in and I worked with them together for a period of time. I discovered that I really enjoyed working with both people, hearing both perspectives, and helping them truly hear what the other person was saying.
My main focus is cognitive behavioral therapy. Basically, this method looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
