Hello there and welcome to my website and blog. In this first post I will share a little about myself and how Dragonfly Therapy has come to be.
I am super passionate about helping people get through their life struggles whether it's related to daily life stressors, relationships, or significant traumas. I do my best to help people see that there is "light at the end of the tunnel" no matter how long that tunnel may appear in the moment. I do this by reminding people of their inner strength that has brought them thus far and restoring their sense of hope that eventually things will be different.
Becoming a counselor...
My whole life I planned to be a teacher "when I grew up". After finishing college, I spent a year working at an elementary school as a reading tutor and there I realized that even kids as young as 6 or 7 years old were dealing with many obstacles that interfered with their ability to learn academics in the classroom. At the same time, I was learning about the field of counseling due to issues involving my own family members which caused me to have a sense of curiosity about what was causing these problems and what could be done to make things better. I decided to apply for a graduate program in counselor education.
My first practicum as a mental health counseling graduate student was with an agency that provides in-home parent education and skills training. They had me out providing counseling for new mothers experiencing post-partum depression in the rural counties surrounding Gainesville, FL. This was quite an experience that has stuck with me through today as the majority of my professional career thus far has been with agencies providing in-home therapy.
After finishing graduate school, I left Gainesville and hop, skipped, jumped across cities and states before settling back in Gainesville in 2016. I spent the last couple years here working as a clinical supervisor and program director at an agency while settling back into the local community and creating a sense of "home".
Dragonfly Therapy...
I don't know about you, but New Year is often an inspiring time for me. Whether it is the beginning of the calendar year on January 1 or the beginning of a new year of life for me on February 12, I frequently make changes. Haircut, move to a new city, start a new job, buy a house... the list could go on. 2018's list included the decision to step out of my comfort zone by starting a private therapy practice.
I have had an affinity towards dragonflies since I was a teenager, they are my spirit animal, and since dragonflies are a symbol of transformation it seemed like the perfect name for my therapy practice.
Dragonfly Therapy, Inspiring Transformation.