I am a dedicated Mental Health and Addictions clinician with expertise in prevention, diagnosing, psychotherapy, group therapy, illness management, consultation, teaching, and supervision. I have 30 + years experience of working with patients of all ages, from young children to the elderly, from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, presenting problems that reflect the full range of clinical severity or the state of health. I have worked in solo practice, outpatient, hospital, educational, non-profit organizations, and community settings. 

     My extensive professional training in the study of psychology and the counseling and psychotherapy methods includes CBT, MI, DBT, Experiential, Dynamic, Systems, Family, Play, Expressive Arts Therapies as well as many other techniques. I specialize in the treatment of the co-occurring disorders involving addiction and mental health issues, recovery from the alcohol, drug, tobacco, gambling, and behavioral addictions, depression and bipolar disorders, ADHD, Personality disorders, anxiety and phobias, OCD, couple and relational difficulties, parenting problems, aging and chronic illness related issues, pain and loss issues, sexuality related issues, as well as adjustment, stress, and life improvement issues. 

     With my patients, I aim to promote the wellness of a whole person in his/her unique environment and life circumstances utilizing an individualized, integrative, and comprehensive manner rooted in the Humanistic, Systems, Positive Psychology, Interpersonal, and Psychoanalytic theories.

EDUCATION
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY, Boone, NC, USA
     Master of Arts in Community Counseling / Addictions received in 2003
UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
     Master of Psychology received in 1983
     Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Honours received in 1979

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSURE
NCC - #73480, National Certified Counselor
MAC - #507311, Master Addiction Counselor
ICAADC - #1559, Internationally Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor
LPC - # 4786, North Carolina Licensed Professional Counselor
LCAS - # 1080, North Carolina Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist