When you are choosing a therapist what kind of person are you looking for?
You may ask what kind of person is Sheila?
It depends on who you ask, you would get a different answer if you ask my husband, my sons, my clients, or even on of my friends. When I ask myself that question, the answer I get may depends on the kind of mood I am in or day I am having (sound familier? I'm a real person too!). Today I am feeling confident and introspective. I would say I am a scientist,(first degree is in Biology and I love genetics), an empath (I have an unique ability to feel what others are experiencing), a counselor/therapist my training and career, an adventurer (a sagatarious that loves to travel and have fun), a mother (I love my children and would do anything for them), a friend/wife, and above all a person that believes in personal growth for myself and others as the path to wholeness and fulfillment.
I Have lived in a variety of cultures, climates, and natural beauty such as New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Hawaii and Nevada and finally Asheville, North Carolina. I have enjoyed many experiences and adventures that have added to my personal and professional life. One thing I have noticed they have in common is the element of sunshine.
I lOVE SUNSHINE! (along with mountains and oceans).
On a personal note; I have three sons 25, 21, 7 and a step son 17, two playful dogs that chase the two cats.
I was raised in a large family (middle child after twin girls and before the only boy and baby girl), so I really know how to balance and mediate.
In my adult life, I have experienced three types of family stuctures; an intact family for 12 years, then a divorced single parent for 11, and am currently happily married in a blended family.
In my 13 years of personal experience in the therapeutic field, I have gained a degree of professionalism that has added to my education and training. This has created my unique blend of qualities that flow well in this work and enhances my creativity, analytical abilities, and intuition in order to open doors for others to expand to the person they aspire to.
My Education
(the dry but very neccessary stuff)
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a pre-med major from the University of Houston Clear Lake, 1986. I found my career goals changing and continued my education and graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Agency counseling marriage and family program from University of Northern Colorado, 1996.
I have additional training and certification in Play Therapy with children, DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and Substance Abuse counseling with adolescents, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for trauma, grief and loss as well as hypnosis for goal setting, weight loss and peak performance.
