Background
I began my work with children as a Special Education teacher at the elementary and middle school levels. My Special Education training and experience gives me a solid understanding of child development, learning/cognition, educational assessment, as well as the public education policies and procedures that affect our children.
After 13 years in the classroom, I decided to pursue my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology. Following graduation, I began working as a school counselor at an inner-city middle school in New Mexico. Within this environment, I learned to assess and treat a wide range of mental health issues facing school-aged populations. Sexual, physical, and emotional trauma, addiction, suicide, divorce, anxiety disorders, behavior disorders and sexual identity issues were just a few of the issues we helped our students to cope with and understand. All of these issues required me to begin using experiential, and solution-focused techniques to meet the student's needs. Experiential techniques include sand tray, art, music, sculpture, movement, play and energy work. Solution-focused techniques help clients to concentrate on what is going right in their life and then helps clients to work on solutions rather than focusing on the problem. After 21 years of working with with children in public education I have decided to retire and devote myself to a full time private practice. In this setting I will continue to support children with their emotional and social well- being. Through continuing education, I have increased my knowledge and techniques in experiential therapies, psychological and educational assessments, nutrition and psychopharmacology.
Credentials
Bachelor Degree in Special Education, University of New Mexico, 1990
Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology, Webster University, 2002
Licensed Professional Counselor, Texas, #61035, 2005
Licensed School Counselor, SBEC Texas, 2003
Licensed Special Education Teacher k-12, SBEC Texas, 2002 |