Being one who is daily reminded of my own desperate need for Jesus, I long to point others to His healing. I continue to taste of Jesus’ grace in my life and experience His pouring through my own brokenness onto others. I continue to claim the promise that "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weaknesss...[Jesus] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness'... For when I am weak, then I am strong." (1 Cor 11:30; 12:9-10).
A Personal Introduction & Invitation
Be Loved. Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Known.
Do you know that you are LOVED? SEEN? HEARD? KNOWN? Is that not the cry of every human heart, to know that we are those four things? Through my own suffering and sitting with others in their sufferings over the years, I continue to resonate with this core desire that we all have.
Over thirteen years ago, I first became interested in Biblical Counseling as I wrestled with struggles of my own. Isaiah 61:1-4 became the theme of my pursuing social work with the end goal of desiring to become a counselor. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to rub shoulders with people with a variety of religious and ethnic and political backgrounds and wrestle with the darkness of the world, of our culture, and of the human heart. It became my desire to share the light of Jesus with those who are from a variety of backgrounds and to be able to minister to the entire person as Jesus did. I have seen how my own ongoing journey with suffering in several areas is a space that the Lord continues to use to speak through into others’ lives, a sweet gift that humbles me.
My own journey over the years with chronic health conditions and OCD myself has also lead me to be passionate about helping the WHOLE person- spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. My mission is to be a part of RE-VIVING every part of YOUR life even as Jesus is in the process of doing with mine.
As I have continued in my own ongoing journey with counseling both personally and professionally over the years, I have continued to experience and watch the Father using the Gospel to take the shattered pieces of life and create a beautiful stained glass. It would be a privilege to come alongside you and be a part of your own process.
No matter where you are at in your story- I invite you to come and BE LOVED, BE SEEN, BE HEARD, and BE KNOWN.
Where do you feel despair? Are you overwhelmed with grief, shame, or anxiety? Do you have a hidden sexual struggle you don’t know who to share it with? Are you dealing with a relational difficulty? Are you learning how to do life as a single? Have you been hurt by the Church? Do you feel like you are spinning out of control? Do you find yourself fixating on certain thoughts or doubts? Are you weary from pouring into others? Are you simply needing to process a new life season? Where do you find yourself seeking to fill your aching heart? In whom or what are you placing your identity? The raw emotions and situations of our lives are often messy and complex but can be windows into our hearts and even into our relationship with God. I desire to sit with you in that struggle and over time show you that the Lord desires to meet you right where you are, no matter where you are with God. He can use the most broken pieces of our lives to draw us to Himself.
Isaiah 53: 3-6 says, “Jesus was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.”
I invite you to come with me to behold the One who walked this earthly life, suffered, and died— and went through it alone so that you and I would not have to. You may feel alone. But you are not alone. Emmanuel, God is with us (Matthew 1:23). Unlike the burdens we place on ourselves, His burden is light (Matthew 11:28). For those in Christ, we are a new creation, which has radical implications. (2 Cor. 5:17).
Whether the thought of all of these above truths are encouraging to you or not, I long to be a safe place for you. As YOUR counselor, I will meet you right where you are spiritually and create a safe place for you to process any of your story. There are no “wrong” questions. You will not be “preached” at. Scripture is my lens and tool to help, not condemn. My goal is to “speak the truth in love” (Eph 4:15). I especially desire to be sensitive to those who might have been hurt by a misuse of Scripture.
As a Christian counselor, I seek to address both the “fruit” (symptom) and “root” (cause) of your struggle to see change. I can use various techniques through a Biblical worldview. Recognizing that emotional and physical health are frequently connected, I desire to approach my clients with this holistic approach and where possible to help connect them with appropriate resources for their care. I seek to integrate any physical/ emotional issues and data into a holistic understanding of my clients. I love to work with other professionals (i.e. psychiatrists, doctors etc.) in order to provide the best integrated and holistic care for my clients.
I can also partner with churches, pastors, and campus ministries to coordinate care if a client desires.
I LOVE counseling in the nine specialties listed here but have a special passion for counseling girls and women in the areas of anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder/scrupulosity as well as a passion for counseling college and post college young adults in general.
To join what God is doing in you is my humble desire and prayer. In every session I lean on our Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6) and invite you to do the same. I view myself as just one of the instruments in the Redeemer’s hands in your life. My passion is for more people to become true worshipers of the living God (Rom. 11:33-36) and to abide in His love and truth (John 15: 4-5,9). Only here is there true RE-VIVING.
Past Training & History:
I received both my bachelor’s (2012) and master’s degree (2014) in social work from the University of Texas Arlington. One of my concentrations in my master’s was mental health.
During my college years I began attending ABC (Association of Biblical Counselors) and CCEF (Christian Counselor & Education Foundation) conferences and continued this in grad school.
I spent 2015-2018 completing a 3,000 hour internship at Metroplex Counseling & Wellness, a local Biblical counseling center. I had supervision during this time.
I also had the privilege to work part-time as an intern with Christ Chapel Soul Care for 4 months in 2018 to help supervise lay-counselors.
At the end of all of my internship hours and licensure testing, I became a LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) in the state of Texas.
In spring of 2019, the Lord abundantly opened doors for me to begin my own private practice, and Re-Viving Lives Counseling was born!
The past four years, I have loved to continue to own and counsel and grow in my private practice.
Current Training & Approach:
(I ongoingly complete a certain amount of CEUs [continuing education units] to stay licensed, and I also consider myself a life-long learner!)
I frequently attend ABC (Association of Biblical Counselors) and/or CCEF (Christian Counselor & Education Foundation) conferences.
I am currently a member of ABC (Association of Biblical Counselors) and NASW (National Association of Social Workers).
I frequently consult with other like-minded counselors for case consultation and support.
I frequently ask others to pray over myself and my practice.
I often pursue conferences or other courses on OCD, Pure O OCD, and Scrupulosity OCD (through IOCD [International OCD Foundation] or others).
In 2020, I completed a course on EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). Certain clients can be helped by this technique that can help diffuse certain strong emotions from anxiety or trauma. I look forward to further training in this.
In 2022 I took a course on Polyvagal Theory (understanding of nervous system/trauma).
In winter of 2023, I completed a course and am currently a CCATP (Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional).
In spring & summer of 2023, I took an introductory course on Functional Psychiatry (holistically addressing brain/ body from a functional medicine perspective on topics like anxiety, OCD, depression, and ADHD). Intro to Functional & Integrative Psychiatry Online Training | PR (psychiatryredefined.org) (Although I am not a psychiatrist or physician, this training gives me further understanding on this vital topic and supports my holistic approach to clients.)
In March of 2024, I attended the IOCDF BTTI (Behavior Therapy Training Institute) which involved completing 20 CEUS of training and will involve ongoing consultation with BTTI faculty/ group for the next few months in order to become BTTI certified for OCD by summer 2024!
(I also interact with other courses not listed here!)
Speaking Opportunities:
Spoke at a mental health panel discussion at the BSM at UTA on mental health and college students for a group of local college ministers (‘Aug ‘22).
Guest-speaker to a group of college girls on singleness & sexuality at a local Christian college (Sep ‘22).
Guest-speaker for Sigma Phi Lambda over zoom for their “Lamb Leadership Academy” to speak to ~ 125 college girl leaders across 26 different chapters across multiple Southern states on the topic of self-care, time-management, and shepherding others (Sep ‘22).
Guest-speaker for Soul Care Christ Chapel for a group of lay counselors and Soul Care staff on the topic of OCD (Aug ‘23).
Guest-speaker for Sigma Phi Lambda over zoom for their “Lamb Leadership Academy” to speak to large group of college girl leaders across different chapters across multiple Southern states on the topic of Psalm 34: “Where Is Your Gaze” with practical life applications (Oct ‘23).
Guest-speaker at VivaWise Functional Wellness team zoom meeting to give a brief presentation on OCD (March ‘24).
As a single thirty-something lady, some of my passions in addition to my counseling practice involve writing a book on OCD/ spiritual scrupulosity, outdoor adventuring, running, biking, swing dancing, tap dancing, reading, being involved at my church, spending time with my wonderful family and friends, wearing my cowboy boots, and eating Tex-Mex.
