People often start counseling because life seems to be falling apart. Life can seem overwhelming and confusing. Stress and conflict in a relationship is one of the main reasons people pick up the phone for some help understanding what is happening.  At times they may feel alone, lost, and hopeless.

I am a mental health therapist in private practice at 160 Medical Circle, Suite E, West Columbia, SC 29169 (Across from Lexington Medical Center.) I do counseling with adults, teens and couples who come with a variety of concerns including depression, anxiety, grief and family or marriage conflict.

I have a special interest in individuals who are struggling with issues relating to growing up in a home with an alcoholic parent or other abusive family situation. Often two of the major problems are in setting boundaries and unhealthy dependency issues.

Adults from homes where they were not valued can have problems with identity and worth. They can also find it difficult to form healthy relationships and families of their own.
 Self-esteem is a reflection of how we are treated by significant people in our life.

Feelings of low worth are often rooted in thoughts of not being good enough or the need to be perfect. Self-worth can be destroyed by a sense of shame. Shame is not that the individual has done something wrong but that somehow person is defective.

It is the feeling that there is something inherently wrong with me. Shame is often connected with abuse whether physical, emotional or sexual either in their current situation or from childhood. At times counseling leads to working through grief.

Grief can be any loss including loss of opportunities or expectations that are never realized. Counseling can be difficult and challenging, but it can be rewarding and life changing. I believe change happens as individuals take responsibility for their own lives and have the courage to look into their own motivations, belief systems and reactions. I believe change happens as individuals are able to extend kindness and forgiveness to themselves and ultimately to those in their lives.

Most major insurance accepted. Day and evening hours.

Call (803) 750-7900 for an appointment.