Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.
-Frederick Buechner
The two most important aspects of counseling to me are relationships and story. I believe that because most of our pain, hurt and woundings are caused by relationships, our healing also comes through our relationships. It is my desire to build a relationship with clients where I can shine light into areas where shame has made them feel alone. Through this therapeutic alliance we will enter into stories of your life, past and present, and seek to find underlying core causes for current problems. The process of counseling can be a painful but beautiful one and I believe change and healing are found by honestly looking at the areas of our lives where we have experienced brokenness. Together we will seek to find hope, healing and redemption by walking through your story.
I also believe that all people are created in the image of God to be loved and known. But, because we live in a broken world, we feel shame, pain and isolation. It is my hope that my clients would experience new wholeness and freedom as they find the dignity in their own depravity and their part in a larger Story of redemption.
I am influenced by several authors including Henri Nouwen, Irvin Yalom, Dan Allender, Brene Brown, Wesley Hill, Diane Langberg, Jamie Tworkowski,St. Augustine, and Brennan Manning. Although my philosophy is largely motivated by my own personal Christian faith, I have experience with counseling people of various faith backgrounds and can counsel within any worldview.