Motivation
My journey to becoming a counselor began at a very young age. I will never forget the moment I decided I wanted a career in the mental health field. I was about 5 years old and was having a conversation with my father, who is to this day, a practicing psychiatrist. I was asking him about his job and if it was 'fun'. He looked at me with a sincere expression on his face and said, "Sabrina, I have the best job in the world because I get to help people learn how to feel happier in their own skin every day." Those words hit home with my 5 year old brain and created a flashbulb memory for me. I remember thinking, "Wow, that IS the best job in the world." I knew then and there that I wanted to follow in his footsteps and help people learn to make meaningful changes in their lives. Life derailed my path here and there but ultimately I am now living this lifelong dream.
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Education
I received my B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Texas State University and my M.A. in Counseling Psychology from St. Edward's University. I consider myself a lifelong learner and have had the great honor of attending post graduate trainings and seminars led by some of the most brilliant minds in the mental health field. I am fully trained and experienced in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT).
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
Experience
I have provided individual, group, and family therapy for both adults and adolescents in a variety of clinical settings including psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, correctional facilities, and private practices. I treat a wide range of mental health concerns including trauma, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, phobias, depression, grief and loss, addiction, Bipolar Disorder, Personality Disorders, and psychosis.
It is my job to create a safe place for you to open up about the things that are troubling you and I take that job very seriously. My therapeutic approach is client centered and involves a non-traditional blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness. What that means is that together we will learn how to regulate the mind and body by identifying, challenging, and reframing what I call "cognitive errors" and build your coping skill toolbox so you are better equipped to handle the challenges life sends your way.
