About Me

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Hi, I’m Carolyn!  

I BELIEVE IN LIFE CHANGE.  I BELIEVE IN REDEMPTION.  I believe your thoughts have power, power to change your feelings and actions.  My therapeutic approach is centered around what you tell yourself day to day, moment by moment, teaching you to identify your inner dialogue and make changes that will transform you into the happy person you once were, maybe the person you always hoped to be!  I believe that by learning to enjoy the present, your past regrets and worries about the future will subside.  YOU DON”T HAVE TO FEEL THIS WAY.  Let me help you!  

I’m pretty sure that if you’ve never sought out help from a counselor before, you may have some preconceived notions.

  • Am I psychic? No!

  • Do I sugar coat things? No, but I’ll deliver truth in a way that honors you.

  • Is your problem unique? Absolutely. There’s no one like you.  

I can assure you that though I have some keen insights, first and foremost,  I really do care about how you are feeling and I will make you feel accepted and comfortable from our introduction on.  From the beginning, you’ll feel like we’ve known one another a long time. 

Counselors come in all shapes, sizes and specializations.  Though all counselors have education and hours to back up credentials, life experiences certainly play a part in who we are as individuals and the work we do.  Naturally, because we’re humans too, our experiences give us opportunities to understand your experiences in ways that show you we “get it”, to show that we care that you’re hurting, and an ability to apply our “lessons learned” to your unique situation.  

Who knows?  Maybe your life struggles and challenges have something in common with one of mine. 

Let’s see…

  • Did you grow up in an immigrant family?

  • Did one of your parents or caregivers have a mental illness or PTSD?

  • Were or are you a military spouse? During war?

  • Do you have a special needs family member?

  • Do you have aging parents?

  • Do you live far away from someone who depends on you for support?

  • Have you or your spouse had a miscarriage?

  • Have any of your family members suffered a traumatic brain injury?

  • Have you or are you currently having struggles as a parent? As a parent of adult children? As a grandparent?

These situations and a host of others hold a special place in my practice as a counselor.  If your experiences don't line up with any of mine, don’t let that concern you.  I love what I do which is helping you through your struggles.  Life in general has taught me empathy and that we all need one another.  I have a great big heart and I’m ready, willing, and equipped to help you, no matter what your struggle happens to be. 

Our Time Together: What You Can Expect From Our Sessions

As far as counseling style goes, I’m pretty relaxed!  After our initial “getting to know you” stage, we’ll spend time getting caught up regarding what’s been going on in your life.  I want to hear it all!  All about your activities, your stresses, your favorite music, your family members, all of it!  Yes, you can say anything you like in our safe space.  Authenticity is a key value of mine.  I expect you to be honest with me, so I must be honest with you.  That means that I’m not afraid to ask you about hard stuff and challenge you in areas I think you might not be giving yourself enough credit.  We’ll set goals together.  We’ll work at a pace that fits you perfectly.  And you’ll feel better because you’re finally moving forward, in thought and in action.  Momentum won’t be a stranger.  Uncertainty will be replaced by confidence.   I’ll help you get to a place of peace- together.   We’ll cry together, we’ll laugh together.   Yes, humor, even in the darkest of times, is therapeutic.   You’ll look forward to our time together. I promise.   

Sessions last 50 minutes to one hour.  There is no timer or bell that goes off at the hour like in the movies.  :) We start wrapping up around the 50 minute mark so that our goodbye isn’t abrupt and awkward.   Most clients prefer to see me every other week, giving them time between sessions to process and complete any assigned “head”work.

No one visits these web pages without a reason.  Though life includes periods of enjoyment and peace, we can find ourselves in situations and seasons that may appear to be hopeless.  But hope exists.  I'll help you- one step at a time!

Education/Credentials:

• National Certified Counselor - National Board of Certified Counselors
• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland and South Carolina
• Completed Level 3 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy
• M.S. in Counselor Education - McDaniel College
• B.S. in Music Education - University of West Florida,
• American Counseling Association, Member