Taking The

Steps Forward

Towards

Support and Changes

I offer mental health counseling services to individuals ages 3 and up. I am affiliated with the mental health therapists at Halcyon Wellness LLC in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

Starting on a journey for yourself, your child, or your family is a courageous and transformative decision. I understand that seeking support is not only about addressing immediate challenges, but also about creating lasting positive changes in life.

The Importance of Support

Support provides a foundation of safety and understanding, allowing you to explore thoughts and emotions without judgment. It empowers you to gain insight, develop coping strategies, and build resilience. Whether you are facing anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral problems, relationship difficulties, parenting struggles, or life transitions, I am here to help you through the process.

Embracing Change

Change can bring a wide range of strong emotions, but it's essential for growth. With the right tools and guidance, you can gain new perspectives and behaviors that align with your goals and values. Change is about taking small baby steps, a process that involves patience, commitment, and self-compassion.

Your Path Forward

I am dedicated to partnering with you every step of the way. Together, we can develop a personalized plan tailored to your unique needs.

Taking that first step may feel like a huge leap, but it's the beginning of a brighter, more fulfilling future. Reach out today, and let's move forward…one step at a time, together.

Treatment Approaches :

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - CBT is the main treatment modality I use in sessions. It is an evidence-based treatment used to assist individuals in understanding and reframing their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors for lasting positive change.

  • Play Therapy - Play is an essential part of every child’s life. Play therapy uses play as a natural and effective means for children to communicate and express their thoughts and feelings. Through play therapy, children are provided with a safe and supportive environment where their emotions can emerge naturally, allowing for better understanding and processing by both the child and the therapist.

  • Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) - Anxiety in children is becoming more common than it used to be. SPACE is a parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, separation anxiety, and related disorders focuses on empowering parents with the tools and strategies necessary to support their child's emotional well-being. SPACE involves educating parents about their child's anxiety, teaching effective behavioral techniques, and fostering skills to manage anxiety-provoking situations at home and in the community.

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - I am EMDRIA trained in EMDR. EMDR is an eight-phase psychotherapy approach that I use with children, adolescents, and adults. It involves recalling a distressing memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation to enhance the brain’s processing of the memory.

  • Unified Protocols (UP) - UP is a cognitive-behavioral therapy approach that does not treat each disorder separately but instead targets common underlying factors and aims to promote healthier emotional coping and management. I use this approach to help individuals develop more flexible thinking, increase emotional awareness, and build effective strategies to regulate emotions, leading to improved overall mental health and well-being.

  • Parent Management Training (PMT) - Working with parents is one of my favorite aspects of my work. Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs, and there are so many parenting manuals out there. How do you know which one is the best? PMT provides parents with practical skills to effectively manage and reduce challenging behaviors in children of all ages. It emphasizes the use of positive reinforcement to ensure desirable behaviors are encouraged and strengthened.

  • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) - TF-CBT is designed for children and adolescents who have experienced traumatic events. It focuses on the creation of a trauma story to address the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive impacts of trauma in a structured and supportive way.

  • Safe and Sound Protocol Therapy (SSP) - I am trained in SSP to help individuals with a history of trauma continue their healing journey. SSP is designed to support the regulation of the autonomic nervous system by using specially filtered music.

Circular badge with teal background that reads 'Safe and Sound Protocol' at the top and 'Trained and Certified' in pink across the center, with the 'Unyte' logo at the bottom.

Counseling Services

Mental Health Counseling

I have been a licensed professional counselor (LPC) since 2011 and work with clients ages three and up. Over the years, my work has taken me through a variety of settings, including private practice, psychiatric hospitals, medical clinics, and day treatment programs. Each experience has shaped my approach and deepened my commitment to providing thoughtful, compassionate care.

After Prevea Health exited western Wisconsin, I chose to return to private practice. During that transition, I spent a brief but meaningful period with Halcyon Wellness, LLC while finding my footing. This journey ultimately led to the creation of Steps Forward Counseling.

Opening Steps Forward Counseling has been the fulfillment of a long-standing dream, especially the opportunity to create a dedicated play therapy space. I am now able to offer a welcoming environment where adults, adolescents, children, and families can engage in meaningful, effective therapy and take steps forward toward healing and growth. I work with adults and children navigating anxiety, depression, and past traumatic experiences.

A monarch butterfly chrysalis hanging from a green plant with orange flowers in the background.
A monarch butterfly perched on a pink flower with a yellow center, displaying orange and black wings.
“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety”
— Abraham Maslow

I specialize in working with adults and children navigating anxiety, depression, and past traumatic experiences. I am also passionate about helping parents learn supportive strategies that reduce challenging behaviors and foster healthy emotional development in children.

I accept a wide range of insurance plans, such as Security Health Plan, United Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Alliance, WPS, Medica, Multiplan, BPA, Prevea360, Medicaid, ForwardHealth, BadgerCare, and various Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).