As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), I initially strive to create a quality therapeutic alliance with the individual through an approach called Relational Cultural Therapy that encompasses mutual respect, mutual empathy, and highlights cultural humility. Once a strong rapport has been developed with the individual, I seek to identify and affirm key qualities and attributes of the individual that demonstrate their past and future ability to overcome mental health challenges through a Strengths-Based Approach. Finally, as the individual and I have created a pathway to overcome mental health difficulties through mutually identified strengths, I utilize a Narrative Therapy Approach to encourage the individual to externalize the problem and re-author problem saturated stories of their past, present, and future to empower future success and support individuals in changing former perspectives to promote a healthier lifestyle.

While these therapeutic approaches are the foundation to my professional framework, I am trained to adapt to the needs of individuals presenting with mental health challenges through the use of alternative forms of therapy. I accomplish this task by understanding the individual's presenting problem, therapeutic needs, cultural identity, and life perspectives to identify the most appropriate, evidenced-based approach to engage them in the therapeutic relationship.