Welcome to Lighthouse Counseling. Therapy is based upon boundaries and trust. Please carefully review the following information since it is the foundation on which the counseling relationship is built.

Professional Standards: I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling. I believe in treating each client with dignity and respect and feel a responsibility to counsel in a way that is consistent with Christian principles. 

Education and Experience: I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Appalachian State University and a Masters in Counseling from Regent University. I was licensed in North Carolina during the 1990’s but let that license go inactive while I spent time as a stay-at-home mom. During that time, I did a lot of volunteer counseling and group work with my church and another parachurch ministry. In 2007, I got licensed in the state of Virginia and started working in private practice in 2008. In 2022, I became registered in the state of Florida to do telehealth. I am also a member of the Virginia Counselors Association.

Therapeutic Orientation: Every attempt will be made to match the counseling approach to your specific needs. During the initial visits, information is gathered to identify problems and discuss treatment goals. Assessment may include questionnaires and psychological testing. After the assessment is complete a decision will be made about whether your needs can be best met by myself or if an outside referral is needed.

My orientation to counseling is based on the belief that our beliefs produce our thoughts, which produce our feelings, which then produce our behavior. This is a cognitive/behavioral approach. I also believe that our beliefs are often influenced by our family and childhood experiences. This is generally known as a psychodynamic approach to counseling. I became certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in 2016, was certified in Internal Family Systems (IFS) in 2019 and am also certified in Eye Movement Integration (EMI). I believe that these interventions blend well with the previous mentioned approaches. I also have extensive training in trauma therapy.

For marital therapy, the Gottman Method is my preferred therapeutic intervention.

I do, if the client requests, include spiritual interventions that align with the client’s spiritual belief system.

Code of Ethics: As stated before, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia. I follow the ethical and professional standards of the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics. This code of ethics outlines my responsibilities to uphold a professional and appropriate relationship with clients. Outlined in this code are the values of the counseling profession and the purpose of the therapeutic relationship between counselors and clients. Following the ACA code of ethics will allow me to function at my highest potential and to do what is in your best interest as my client.

At the same time, the direction given in my therapy sessions is influenced by both my Christian faith and counseling theory. If your core beliefs differ from mine, please discuss this with me. Please feel free to share any concerns and ask questions about any aspect of the counseling process including treatment approach, progress, and the termination (the end) of the counseling process.