About Me
My Approach
I am a Solution-Focused Therapist. This means that I work with you to help develop specific goals that you want to achieve while in therapy. Then I develop a set of tools, homework’s, and strategies that help you to reach those goals. I look at evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapies, as well as Coaching, Couples and Family Therapies and Play Therapy as tools to help you reach your goals. I also encourage you to be accountable and proactive in your therapy to help you learn to become self-reliant and capable of using tools on your own outside of the therapy setting. I believe in being encouraging and positive as I help individuals, families and couples develop their strengths while overcoming their weaknesses. I am highly invested in each of my clients and strive to help them achieve their therapy goals.
Tools I reccomend
- Homework’s
- Strategies that help you to reach those goals
- Evidence-based approaches
- Help you learn to become self-reliant
- Assist in helping you use the tools on your own outside of the therapy setting
About Me
I am a born and raised New Mexico Native. I obtained my BA Degree from The University of New Mexico in Sociology and Family Studies in 2000. I received my Master’s Degree in Counseling from Webster University in May of 2003. Prior to my graduation, I volunteered to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for several years where I spoke in court on behalf of the children who could not speak for themselves. I also worked for The Children Youth and Families Department of New Mexico and as an Adoption Counselor for Adoptions Plus, where I counseled with pregnant mothers who were considering placing their babies for adoption. I have worked with adoptive families as well and still do to this day as a contracted adoption home study counselor and Certified Adoption Counselor. I enjoy seeing families come together through adoption and helping children find their forever families. I have a special place in my heart for children, and enjoy play, art and sand tray therapy while counseling with them. I have worked in two Elementary School settings and a Vocational High School, where I provided individual, play and group therapy to young children and teens.
After I became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) I began working in various settings and with many diverse populations. I have a background in Individual Counseling, School Counseling & Couples Counseling. I’ve worked at various counseling agencies over the years, where I counseled with adults, adolescents, children and couples. For two years, I worked primarily as a Couples Counselor at an agency here in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I was supervised by a Licensed Sex Therapist who was a valuable resource for my continued education in working with couples. Couples counseling is unlike any other therapy out there. Witnessing couples grow stronger as a unit is a very rewarding experience and I have enjoy helping couples work towards having the loving and rewarding relationships that they deserve.
In April of 2013, I opened my private practice in Rio Rancho, NM where I serve people on the Westside of Albuquerque as well as Rio Rancho. A fellow counselor colleague and myself have set up a welcoming suite in a centrally located office building. Nicole Green and I each serve different populations through counseling, training’s, workshops, retreats and classes provided in our comforting environment. In 2014 I became a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and I chose at that time to specialize in working with couples. I currently work solely with relationship issues including communication, betrayals, sexual issues, blended family concerns, and other couple related topics and I became a Certified Relationship Specialist (CRS). I am currently training to become Certified in EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), which is one of the only models of couple therapy that has been tested and shown to create lasting change in over 20 empirical studies. All of my couple’s work follows the writings, teachings and research of John Gottman, Dr. Sue Johnson, Gary Chapman, Arthur Aron, Dr. Kathy Nickerson, Dr. Gary Brainerd, and Michael. S, Sorensesn, just to name a few. (But I am ALWAYS learning something new).
I find that private practice affords me the ability to provide my clients exactly what I feel they need as well as provide flexibility for my own family. I have many hobbies including playing volleyball, sewing, writing, modeling, reading and spending time with my loving husband, my two awesome teenage daughters and my Certified Therapy Dog ‘Zia’, who works to provide comfort to elderly and children in various settings.
I enjoy all aspects of counseling and I love my job. There is nothing like helping someone to reach their goals, helping someone to improve their life and their relationships and watching people blossom into their full potential. I truly love helping people and look forward to helping you too.
Testimonials
Awards
A New You Counseling, LLC has been selected for the 2016 Best of Rio Rancho Awards for Marriage Counselor.
A New You Counseling, LLC has been selected for the 2017 Best of Rio Rancho Awards for Marriage Counselor.