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As a licensed professional counselor,
I specialize in short-term results using Rational Emotive
Behavior Therapy (REBT), combined with other modalities. In
counseling individuals, couples, groups, children,
adolescents, and families, I find that self-defeating
attitudes, feelings, and behaviors can be dramatically
changed with the use of REBT’s action-oriented,
solution-oriented, cognitive-behavioral approach. As an
educator for 25 years, I taught English, Creative Writing,
and career-based classes to gifted, average, and at-risk
students. Career counseling has been a passion since 1977
when I began teaching at a New Orleans career-based magnet
high school. After returning to Houston, I worked as a
placement counselor for an employment agency. Returning to
teaching, my interest in careers continued, spurring me to
pursue a counseling degree.
In private practice as a career counselor and therapist
since 1995, I had expected to concentrate chiefly on career
counseling; however, clients’ personal issues induced me to
take advanced training to enhance my counseling repertoire.
Another part of my practice entails local to worldwide
public speaking engagements. Small to medium businesses,
large corporations, and medical and government institutions
invite me to speak to their employees. I also address
teacher, parent, and student groups.
One facet of my practice is meeting the special needs of
the gifted and talented. Currently, I conduct a monthly
support group for parents, which focuses on how best to
meet the challenges of developing a gifted child. Having
taught GT classes for nine years, I have individually
counseled many GT adolescents and adults.
As a coordinator for SMART Recovery® (Self-Management
and Recovery Training), I facilitate meetings to train
individuals to overcome self-defeating and/or addictive
behaviors, such as substance abuse, anger management, poor
relationships, depression, anxiety, low frustration
tolerance, and other all too human problems. Based on this
model, I set up a program for teens called STAR (Stop Teen
Addictions Rationally). Teen Forum is a group for average
teens with problems they want to resolve.
Always active, I enjoy traveling, photography, yoga,
creative writing, film and drama, music, and dancing,
continuing education classes, bridge,
walking, hiking, canoeing, rafting, grandparenting, and
anything fun or interesting. My greatest treasures are
my
daughter and son, their spouses, and five grandchildren.
Education
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M.Ed. in Counseling, University of Houston
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M.A.,
California State University at Northridge
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B.A., San Diego State University
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Certification, Texas Licensed Professional Counselor
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Certification, Master Career Counselor
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Certification, Primary and Advanced REBT Counselor
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Certification, Gifted and Talented Teacher
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Albert Ellis Institute of New York:
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REBT
training
- Primary and Advanced Practicum
- Addictions Practicum
- Additional seminars and workshops
Dr. Phil
Training
- Trained
in Learn Dr. Phil from Dr. Frank Lawlis program
- Ethics
and Dr. Phil's Approach
- The
Life Strategies Course
Imago Therapy Marital Counseling
John Gottman Institute for Marriage Counseling
Seminars and workshops including personality disorders,
ethics, curbing urges, anger management, depression, stress
relief and its connection to disease, domestic violence,
panic attacks, and a variety of related mental health
issues.
Professional Memberships
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American Counseling Association
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National Career Development
Association
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Texas
Counseling Association
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Texas
Career Development Association
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Houston
Licensed Professional Counselors Association
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Texas
Association of Gifted and Talented
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American Association of University Women
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