Life can be difficult. And whether you have had a difficult time for awhile, or for a short time, I believe you can visualize and achieve a less distressful life by recognizing personal strengths you already have and learning new skills. I would be honored to be your guide. My approach focuses on helping you more mindfully attend to your thoughts and feelings and choose more self-affirming behaviors. We will address your "story" with respect in a safe, non-judgemental, validating, and trauma-informed environment. I am comfortable addressing disorders of mood, anxiety, personality, and substance abuse in adults 18 and older. I also encourage attention to physical and spiritual self care toward the goal of overall wellness. My integrated approach can include strategies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), as well as Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET). I have been certified as a personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) since 2002. I have beenn working in the mental health and substance abuse fields for 9 years. I graduated from Smith and have an MA in Professional Counseling from McKendree University with coursework at Johns Hopkins. I worked in MD with young adults before moving back to the MA SouthCoast area five years ago.