About Living Stone Christian Counseling
I am a two time graduate of Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Arts in Counseling (with distinction). I am a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I specialize in providing faith based therapy that is rooted in clinical best practices and empirically validated treatment protocols. All services provided by Living Stone Christian Counseling PLLC are fee-based (please see the session information page for more information on therapy rates).
My passion for counseling developed when I was a volunteer counselor at Crisis Pregnancy Centers of Phoenix. Since that time, I have been privileged to work with a variety of different types of clients. I began my counseling career at Arizona Baptist Children’s Services working with troubled youth and their families. Subsequently, I pursued a clinical residency in cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy focusing on the treatment of personality disorders. Most recently I was a primary therapist at Remuda Ranch Centers for anorexia and bulimia. While employed with Remuda, I received extensive training and education on Remuda’s unique, Biblically-based and empirically validated treatment protocol.
As a counselor I have enjoyed helping others and educating the public on a number of issues. I have presented to numerous populations on a variety of topics including: recognizing an eating disorder in a loved one, improving body image, how to change emotional eating, improving communication skills, recognizing depression and suicidality in others, warning signs of substance use in adolescents, how to use cognitive behavioral therapy skills to reduce anxiety and depression in your life, setting and maintaining healthy boundaries with others and how to begin the process of recovery from trauma, etc.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and family. I love to read, watch old episodes of LOST, Law & Order and old movies. I also enjoy making scrapbooks. When time allows, I volunteer as a crisis response volunteer for the Phoenix Fire Department.
Clinical Philosophy
As a Christian counselor and motivator I adhere to the values and principles of the Bible. I strive to understand where my clients currently are at in their lives and encourage them towards positive lasting change and growth. I highly value client confidentiality, always maintain professionalism while providing ethical and competent care.
I utilize various interventions and theoretical orientations. I am client focused; I adapt therapeutic interventions to each individual client and situation. Clinical evidenced-based research supports the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) in assuaging psychological pain. CBT works on the premise that much of the emotional pain we experience is related to what we tell ourselves about our life experiences. For example, often clients have learned and practiced thought patterns that cause them emotional pain and negatively affect their behavior choices. I work with clients to discover these thought distortions. Once the distortion patterns are understood it is easier to challenge them with the truth thereby reducing client suffering.
DBT focuses on the principle of duality as well as the assumptions of traditional cognitive-behavioral theory. DBT looks at both the rational and emotional parts of our mind and seeks to integrate these two areas together. DBT Skills as theorized and described by Marsha Linehan, PhD are helpful in providing clients with skills that help them to remain grounded in the present (instead of ruminating about the past or worrying about the future). DBT also provides a framework of skills to help clients deal with everyday interpersonal issues, learn how to tolerate distressing situations (without making them worse) and regulate their emotions (so the client does not feel like emotions are running their lives). I have frequently witnessed profound growth and change in the lives of my clients that have actively embraced these treatment modalities.
I approach families in crisis from a family systems perspective. This means that it is important to understand how each family member affects and is affected by every other family member. Exploring with each family member what he/she experiences in this system is vital in creating a new and healthier experience.
In working with married couples I use an eclectic blend of psychodynamic, structural and cognitive behavioral therapies. I seek to help the couple understand how the families they grew up in affect how each understands and react to present day family situations. In this process I help the couple evaluate how boundary changes may help them reach their goals. At the same time I help each spouse learn to recognize any thought distortions, challenge them, and choose new behaviors. Most importantly, I integrate all theories of psychology with the Christian faith and always remain true to the word of the LORD.
Professional Memberships
American Association of Christian Counselors
International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors
National Board of Certified Counselors
My passion for counseling developed when I was a volunteer counselor at Crisis Pregnancy Centers of Phoenix. Since that time, I have been privileged to work with a variety of different types of clients. I began my counseling career at Arizona Baptist Children’s Services working with troubled youth and their families. Subsequently, I pursued a clinical residency in cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy focusing on the treatment of personality disorders. Most recently I was a primary therapist at Remuda Ranch Centers for anorexia and bulimia. While employed with Remuda, I received extensive training and education on Remuda’s unique, Biblically-based and empirically validated treatment protocol.
As a counselor I have enjoyed helping others and educating the public on a number of issues. I have presented to numerous populations on a variety of topics including: recognizing an eating disorder in a loved one, improving body image, how to change emotional eating, improving communication skills, recognizing depression and suicidality in others, warning signs of substance use in adolescents, how to use cognitive behavioral therapy skills to reduce anxiety and depression in your life, setting and maintaining healthy boundaries with others and how to begin the process of recovery from trauma, etc.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and family. I love to read, watch old episodes of LOST, Law & Order and old movies. I also enjoy making scrapbooks. When time allows, I volunteer as a crisis response volunteer for the Phoenix Fire Department.
Clinical Philosophy
As a Christian counselor and motivator I adhere to the values and principles of the Bible. I strive to understand where my clients currently are at in their lives and encourage them towards positive lasting change and growth. I highly value client confidentiality, always maintain professionalism while providing ethical and competent care.
I utilize various interventions and theoretical orientations. I am client focused; I adapt therapeutic interventions to each individual client and situation. Clinical evidenced-based research supports the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) in assuaging psychological pain. CBT works on the premise that much of the emotional pain we experience is related to what we tell ourselves about our life experiences. For example, often clients have learned and practiced thought patterns that cause them emotional pain and negatively affect their behavior choices. I work with clients to discover these thought distortions. Once the distortion patterns are understood it is easier to challenge them with the truth thereby reducing client suffering.
DBT focuses on the principle of duality as well as the assumptions of traditional cognitive-behavioral theory. DBT looks at both the rational and emotional parts of our mind and seeks to integrate these two areas together. DBT Skills as theorized and described by Marsha Linehan, PhD are helpful in providing clients with skills that help them to remain grounded in the present (instead of ruminating about the past or worrying about the future). DBT also provides a framework of skills to help clients deal with everyday interpersonal issues, learn how to tolerate distressing situations (without making them worse) and regulate their emotions (so the client does not feel like emotions are running their lives). I have frequently witnessed profound growth and change in the lives of my clients that have actively embraced these treatment modalities.
I approach families in crisis from a family systems perspective. This means that it is important to understand how each family member affects and is affected by every other family member. Exploring with each family member what he/she experiences in this system is vital in creating a new and healthier experience.
In working with married couples I use an eclectic blend of psychodynamic, structural and cognitive behavioral therapies. I seek to help the couple understand how the families they grew up in affect how each understands and react to present day family situations. In this process I help the couple evaluate how boundary changes may help them reach their goals. At the same time I help each spouse learn to recognize any thought distortions, challenge them, and choose new behaviors. Most importantly, I integrate all theories of psychology with the Christian faith and always remain true to the word of the LORD.
Professional Memberships
American Association of Christian Counselors
International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors
National Board of Certified Counselors
