A Little About Myself
The thing that my family, my friends and my clients all agree on is that everywhere I go - I am the same person. Whether you are a client meeting me in a first therapy session, a family member laughing with me across the dinner table, a stranger chatting with me in line at the grocery store, if you interacted with me any one of these places you would recognize me anywhere.
Sure, I’ve learned all kinds of skills, boundaries, strengths and tricks of the trade for each place or role I find myself in. But in a very true sense, I don’t know how to be anyone other than the real, 100%, Katie.
I went to college for a total of 9 years (and no, I’m not a doctor). I’m a parent who was working AND surviving. It took me another 5 years working in the field to get my license to practice Marriage and Family Therapy.
My kids both think that you go to college till you’re thirty-something because that is what they knew their parents were doing after work when they were little. I have worked my ass off to get where I am today in my career.
So yes, when I went back to finish my undergrad degree at 30 years old, I had a 10 year plan and am overjoyed to have reached that goal in 2024.
I do my job well, and work hard to make sure I can keep doing it well. I have an amazing support system both within and surrounding me that keeps me filled with comfort, love, fun and enjoyment. I am acutely aware of just how much has been poured into me over my lifetime by the people that raised me, married me or joined me on my journey and I am determined not to waste a single ounce of it.
For fun:
Sarcasm is my love language.
I love to host family gatherings and parties where I force everybody to play party games or dance.
I love cats, particularly kittens. I relate to their endless curiosity, their playfulness and love of cozy places in the sun. No, I don’t own any- I see and hold them when I volunteer at the shelter.
I love to hike- but don’t call me a hiker because I like to keep expectations reasonable.
I am a singer and yes, I would sing or make music with you in a session, if you’re interested.
I have a history of getting way too competitive, especially if there’s a prize involved.
Me, As Your Therapist
So let's get one thing straight - Change is HARD.
It’s scary, anxiety ridden, sad, and even lonely. It can feel like no one understands what you’re going through or how exhausted you are with the current state of things. If these feelings center around your relationship, then you may also be feeling resentful, betrayed, or confused about how the person you love the most could hurt you so much or could judge you so harshly when you have been there for them time and again.
Whether those changes were thrust upon you, or you are trying to work up the courage to begin the adventure you’ve wanted to for a long time. It is when you are on the cusp of change that a little support goes a LONG way. Clients often tell me they feel lighter and more hopeful at the end of their first session because they feel like they were finally understood.
In couples counseling, when you each feel safe, understood, accepted and empowered by me you begin to learn how to offer that to one another.
We will naturally lean into both of your strengths and get to work sorting through what you want, how you want to communicate it, and how you both want to grow together. You begin being playful again with each other, and taking risks that connect to hope and adventure rather than survival.
I meet you right where you are. Want to spill your guts your first session – sure! Want to have me lead the first session and ask questions – great! It’s ok that you haven’t figured out exactly what to do next.
By the time you are sitting with me, you have already done a lot to help yourself get what you need.
I am also ok with you telling me only a little bit about what’s going on because you still feel unsure whether to trust me because let’s be real, it’s exhausting to try to fill somebody in on your whole life. But, when you finally feel understood, you immediately decrease internal stress and help yourself think clearer and breathe easier.
In my work with you I will remain collaborative, but I am not afraid to be direct, especially when there are more than two people are in the room. I will help you explore what’s going on inside your head and inside your relationship, and I will also help you to learn to contain it so we can work on things in a manageable pace.
My clients never wonder about how I feel about them because I wear it on my sleeve. They can tell I enjoy them, I believe in them, and I see their strengths right along with their difficulties. They know that when they are interacting with me, they are interacting with a real human person with a great personality – wink wink. In sessions I am responsive, interested, and validating. I am comfortable sharing my own experiences, where appropriate, and am equally comfortable getting pragmatic with planning and finding solutions.
**DISCLAIMER - I may not be the right therapist for you if:
You don’t like it when people cuss - sorry not sorry.
You want someone who is quiet and serious all the time
You want someone who will always agree with you- I’m not good at lying.
