A little Blurb About My Background In Couple and Addiction services

 I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) holding licenses from the states of Iowa, Virginia and Hawaii. I hold two Master’s degrees, an MA in Psychoanalytic Studies from the University of Essex, UK; and an MS in Counseling Psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu in Hawaii.

Since 2003, I have provided pre-marital counseling and helped individuals, couples, and families with relationship issues such as: communication, intercultural challenges, infidelity, sexual incompatibility or other sexual issues, separation, divorce, co-parenting, and remarriages. Other clients have included adults who have issues with their siblings, individuals who have difficulties establishing and maintaining relationships due to past abuse, and families facing mental health and addiction issues.

Having lived and worked in the US, UK, Singapore and Indonesia, I have supported a wide range of clients including multicultural couples and families, same-sex couples, civilian and military families in various settings, including the US Army and US private hospitals, non-profit organizations, and private practices. Based on these experiences, I am able to understand and provide support for families facing deployment, relocation, life transitions and adjustment challenges.

Based on my training and professional philosophy, I have developed an approach that is collaborative, engaging, and individualized to meet clients’ needs and therapy goals. I integrate multiple treatment modalities, such as utilizing psychodynamic techniques as well as CBT, evolutionary psychology perspectives and existential methodologies. The integrative work is necessary to ensure that my clients gain understanding of the source of their issues while being able to manage and deal with them in the present. And, as my clients gain mastery, I will help them set realistic goals, so that they are able to grow and achieve their fullest potential in the future. This will be achieved by helping them understand ways to prevent relapse and develop an ability to create a plan of action. To enhance my clinical work, I often utilize experiential techniques such as crafts and culinary arts with my clients as a venue to help them build confidence, communication skills, focus and organization, mindfulness, emotion management and healthy coping skills.

I am currently a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and most recently served as a clinical supervisor for a major US hospital system. 

I provide couple counseling and addiction in West Des Moines area in English and Indonesian.