Behind the smile no one can see the fight we wage internally and there is no shame in asking for help , let me be the coach in your corner of the ring as we work together. I was raised in a very dysfunctional family. While I will not go into details about this, that part of my life and the stress, anxiety, depression led me to have a strong desire to not only understand the principles behind mental health, but help others in dealing with their issues thus allowing them a bit of solace. Counselors, social workers, and psychologists are all people too, we usually are not perfect people trying to lead you down the perfect path. We just want to help ease your mental burden and improve its health. I am grateful you are taking the time to read this. I have been a mental health therapist for close to 30 years. I started out as a LCDC substance abuse counselor for a small company in Greenville, TX and I have worked my way up to the Treatment Director for a local company with an LPC-S license. There have been many ups and downs in this life of mine, just like everyone else has experienced .No one can claim to know what someone has been through or is currently going through; however, with my experience not only in my work but life as well I hope to be able to guide you through your own experiences, both the ups and the downs. I have worked in a variety of situations which range from substance abuse to mental health. I have worked in settings with adolescents, adults, geriatric populations, and veterans. I have worked in outpatient, residential inpatient, and hospital settings. I am comfortable working with dual diagnosis clients who are suffering not only from addiction but also mental health issues. I am trained in the use of motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma informed care, and co-occurring disorders.