~ Tree of Life Counseling & Art Therapy, LLC ~

~913 First Colonial Road, Suite 201 Virginia Beach, VA 23454 ~757-679-5553~ 
Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved.

My Roots. . . . .

~ Individual Therapy in Virginia Beach , VA~ Couples Therapy in Virginia Beach, VA~ Adolescent Therapy in Virginia Beach, VA~ Art Therapy in Virginia Beach, VA~

Hello, thank you for taking interest in me and my practice. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Art Therapist (ATR) in Virginia Beach, VA. In 2008, I earned a Masters degree in Counseling and Art Therapy from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Upon graduating, I began my professional career focusing on a variety of issues like: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, life transitions, relationship struggles, marital satisfaction, boundaries, trauma, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), low self-esteem, and personal growth.

In January of 2016, I moved, with my family to Virginia Beach from Pittsburgh, PA. There was a feeling of duality with the move. I left a successful private practice in Pittsburgh, but was granted the opportunity to start my own journey as an owner of my own private practice. I took a leap of faith to continue to fulfill my passion of creating meaning in my life and supporting others to live intentionally. I attempt to share this passion through what I feel is an engaging personality, gentle nature, and calm demeanor, which I hope creates a safe environment where trust is built through genuine honesty and authenticity. I strive to be an encourager; not one to pass judgment, nor one to say what you want to hear, but share what I feel you will benefit from hearing and focusing on. My passion is my clients: walking alongside of them, serving them, and empowering them to make healthy decisions for themselves.

When not at Tree of Life Counseling & Art Therapy, I enjoy spending time with my husband Antonio and daughter Isabella, running, yoga, reading, tasting great wine and creating personal artwork. I have come to enjoy going on long rides through the various neighborhoods of Virginia Beach in an attempt to find a neighborhood to lay down roots. Finding a calm place on the beach has become my favorite way of centering myself.  Listening to the waves reminds me of what is important, connectedness to all living things and our environment.

Firstly, building a meaningful therapeutic relationship is at the heart of my approach. In individual, couples and adolescent therapy sessions, I integrate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills along with mindfulness to recognize and reevaluate how previous life experiences have possibly negatively impacted your beliefs, coping skills, cognitions, emotions and behaviors, which might be keeping you stuck in feelings of anxiety, depression or unhealthy ways of relating. As an art therapist, I offer the possibility to use art therapy in all sessions, but do not integrate art therapy into the sessions unless one is open to this mode of self-exploration. My goal is to educate and create a greater sense of understanding about the purpose of our emotions. I will provide support in recognizing and replacing unhealthy patterns of relating and beliefs with more realistic and effective thoughts, thus decreasing emotional distress and self-defeating behaviors. I feel it is important to share that counseling can be pursued not only to handle problems, but also to find more meaning in life, feel more connected to others and our surroundings, and to increase the joy of being alive!