Years ago, as a client and I were wrapping up a particularly intense session, she looked at me with genuine curiosity and asked, “How do you do this? How do you listen to some of the worst moments of people’s lives day after day? Don’t you get burnt out?”
It’s a question I’ve been asked more than once. My answer has always been some version of this: self-care and healthy boundaries matter, but so does being fully present. The Viktor Frankl quote often comes to mind: “What is to give light must endure burning.” Yes, sitting with people in their pain can be heavy, but it’s also profoundly meaningful. For me, the burnout doesn’t come from the trauma stories—it comes from paperwork and red tape. Trauma work, on the other hand, is energizing. To witness someone reclaim their power, release self-blame, or finally accept that they are enough—those are the moments that fuel me.
But my story of becoming a therapist starts long before I sat across from my first client.
A Defining Moment in Childhood
When I was 10 years old, my mother passed away. I still remember the hospital room—doctors and nurses moving quickly, conversations heavy with medical jargon. In the midst of it all, there was one person who stood out: the social worker. Unlike anyone else in that room, she carried comfort. She didn’t have to fix anything; her presence alone mattered. She made me feel seen at a time when I felt invisible. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be in the helping profession.
Early Career and Finding My Niche
Fast forward: What began with an interest in medicine within the helping profession quickly turned to counseling and therapy once I took my first psychology course. I earned my Master’s in Social Work and began what has now been over 20 years in the field. Early in my career, I moved to San Francisco while my husband pursued his education. There, I began working at the VA hospital, primarily in addiction treatment. It was my first exposure to veterans struggling with both addiction and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). What struck me was the deep intersection of trauma and substance use—how so many people were trying to numb pain that felt unbearable. That was the beginning of my passion for trauma work.
When we returned to the Midwest, I continued my work with the VA and eventually became the coordinator of the PTSD Clinical Team (PCT) in Detroit. That role solidified my commitment to this specialty, and since then, trauma has been at the heart of my work.
How I Practice
My therapeutic approach is gentle, but direct. Therapy, to me, is a partnership. I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as my foundation because it helps people see how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are deeply connected—and how changing one area can shift the others. Trauma often distorts how people view themselves, the world, and others. Together, we work on challenging unhelpful beliefs and building healthier coping strategies and behaviors.
I am also trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE), two gold-standard trauma treatments.
Beyond trauma, I work with anxiety, phobias, grief, and caregiver stress. Regardless of the diagnosis, my work is client-centered and strength-based. I believe people come into therapy already carrying resilience; my role is to help them uncover and strengthen it.
What Inspires Me
In addition to my daily interactions with clients, two concepts have deeply shaped how I show up during sessions.
First, a conversation between the two main characters in the book Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.
The book is a memoir about the author’s final “classes” with his dying former sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz. Over several months, he visited Morrie every Tuesday as he battled ALS, exploring Morrie’s profound wisdom and compassion, and transforming Mitch’s perspective on life, relationships, and the importance of living meaningfully. Morrie once said to Mitch, “I believe in being fully present. That means you should be with the person you’re with. When I’m talking to you now, Mitch, I try to keep focused only on what is going on between us. I’m not thinking about something we said last week. I’m not thinking of what’s coming up this Friday. I am talking to you. I’m thinking about you.” I very much value the idea of being fully present with another person. When I’m with a client, I want them to feel like they are the only person in the world at that moment.
Second, Brené Brown’s research on vulnerability.
Brené is a researcher, professor, and author known for her work on courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. Her book Daring Greatly is truly inspiring, and her TED Talk from 2010 is still one of the most viewed TED Talks out there. She’s also a social worker! Like Brené, I believe it takes immense courage to share your pain, to risk being truly seen. I consider it an honor to sit with people in that space of bravery. Only when we open ourselves up a bit do we make space for the chance to change, grow, and thrive.
Why I Do This Work
Over the years, clients have told me that I’ve changed their lives—that my compassion, perspective, and presence have helped them see things differently. Those words are humbling and affirming. They remind me why I chose this path so many years ago in that hospital room with my mom: because being with people in their hardest moments is sacred work.
Start Working With a Trauma Therapist in Ohio and Kentucky
Yes, therapy is hard. Healing requires effort. But the rewards—watching someone reclaim their life, embrace their worth, and move forward with courage—are immeasurable. This is why I do what I do. If you are ready to start your therapy journey with Thrive Therapy, follow these simple steps:
-
Schedule a consultation to explore whether grief or trauma therapy is right for you
-
Get in touch about what is affecting you most—our team will respond with thoughtful next steps
-
Start recognizing your worth!
Other Services Offered with Thrive Therapy Inc.
Thrive Therapy Inc. supports clients across Kentucky, Ohio, and New York. Because many people face more than one concern at a time, we offer a range of services beyond trauma therapy. Our team is happy to also offer a variety of in-person and online therapy services to support you. Other services offered include therapy for sexual assault survivors, first responders, and childhood trauma survivors. You can learn more by visiting our FAQ or blog pages today.