I specialize in marriage and couples therapy in the Quad Cities. I also offer individual counseling for adults facing relationship stress, anxiety, or major life transitions. When stress, conflict, disconnection, or feeling unheard begin to wear down your relationship, or when anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem leave you feeling stuck, therapy can help you find relief and move toward a more hopeful tomorrow. 

I will listen to your story, help you clarify what you want to be different, and collaborate with you on a clear plan for change, including simple practices you can use between sessions so you can see real progress toward your goals. 

Marriage Therapy and Relationship Counseling

Do you and your partner feel stuck, like things will never get better? Maybe you have read self-help books, talked with close friends and family, and tried to make changes, only to fall back into the same old patterns. Couples often tell me that if they could just communicate better, their relationship would feel more connected, supportive, and secure. You want to stay together because you remember how good things felt in the beginning and believe you could feel that way again through marriage therapy or couples counseling.

Relationship expert John Gottman has found that many couples wait an average of six years of feeling unhappy before seeking marriage therapy. During this time, unhelpful patterns become more entrenched and keep you both feeling frustrated, alone, or hopeless about your future together.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) providing marriage therapy and couples counseling in the Quad Cities area, I focus on your relationship patterns, not on assigning blame. Together, we clarify what you want to change, how those changes can happen, and how you will know your relationship is stronger and more secure.

In therapy, I actively coach you to improve communication by really understanding one another (instead of proving who is right), becoming more comfortable asking for what you need and want, and learning practical ways to deepen emotional connection by noticing what you appreciate in your partner. We work on increasing positive interactions so you can once again see your partner as a good and caring person, while reducing the harmful patterns that damage the relationship during conflict.

Over time, you will practice responding differently in difficult moments so your interactions do not spiral out of control. Most importantly, marriage counseling can help you rebuild friendship, enjoy spending time together again, and create a relationship that feels more supportive, safe, and fulfilling for you both. 

Premarital Counseling

Are you thinking about getting married or recently engaged and wondering how compatible you and your partner will really be in marriage? Premarital counseling in the Quad Cities can be a great way to prepare for this next step and strengthen your relationship before the wedding. I am an approved Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich premarital assessment, which is the most researched couple's assessment in the world and has been taken by millions of couples. Over 3 to 5 counseling sessions, you and your partner will explore your strengths as a couple and identify growth areas that we can discuss in depth together.

Many couples do not realize which issues might cause conflict until after the wedding, when stress and expectations are higher. By answering thoughtful, sometimes challenging questions, you and your partner can learn more about one another, navigate difficult topics before tying the knot, and build a stronger foundation for a healthy, long‑term marriage.

Counseling for Anxiety, Stress, Depression and Self-Esteem

Do you feel like you are missing out on important moments in your life because anxiety or low mood keep getting in the way? Are you having a tough time sleeping because your mind is full and will not shut off? Do you find it hard to leave the house and get going, or feel overwhelmed after a major life transition such as a job change, divorce, new baby, aging parent, or medical diagnosis?

I provide anxiety, depression, and life transitions counseling for adults in the Quad Cities. When your mind insists you are not “good enough,” or you feel stuck in obsessive thoughts that keep you from living the kind of life you want, therapy can help you relate to your thoughts in a new way and move toward what matters most.

I use evidence‑based therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness‑based approaches, to help people untangle from worry and negative self‑talk and start living more in line with their values. In our work together, you will learn to tune in to your self‑talk, notice unhelpful patterns, and practice practical skills so you can keep moving toward the people, activities, and goals that are most important to you, even when life feels stressful or uncertain.

Specialized Training 

I have received specialized training in several evidence-based therapies, including Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level I and II), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This training allows me to tailor counseling to your specific concerns, while using approaches that are grounded in research and focused on real-life change.

Licensure

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) State of Iowa

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) State of Illinois

Associations

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) - Clinical Fellow

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) - National Certified Counselor (NCC)

Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) - Professional Member