When trauma touches a family, it casts a shadow on everyone in it.
I help children, siblings, parents, and partners find their footing again — whether you're carrying the weight or loving someone who is.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. With the right support, families heal - not just the one who’s hurting, but everyone who loves them.
The Child or Teen
Something happened — maybe a long time ago, maybe recently — and now everything just feels harder than it should. You're not broken. Your nervous system is just trying to protect you, and there's a way through.
The Overlooked Sibling
Everyone's attention is on your brother or sister right now. The appointments, the meltdowns, the conversations at dinner. You love your family and you're also quietly wondering — does anyone see me? Someone does.
The Exhausted Parent
You've tried everything — the books, the strategies, the long talks after bedtime. You love your child fiercely and you're running out of road. You don't need to be a perfect parent. You need someone in your corner.
The Couple
You love someone who's been through something hard — and their pain has become part of your daily life too. You may have started to lose hope and need new skills to get unstuck.
Healing doesn’t just happen in 50 minutes once a week.
It happens during all the moments in between.
At the dinner table when a parent finally understands what's driving their child's behavior. In the car when a sibling feels safe enough to say what they've been holding. At bedtime when a couple finds their way back to each other after a hard day.
That's why I don't just work with the person sitting across from me. I work with the people they go home to.
Many therapists work with both children and couples. Far fewer have specific clinical training in both — that means I can hold the whole family in mind.
This work isn’t just professional for me.
It’s personal.
My sister came home to our family at 11 months old. I was two and a half. She came as a foster child with severe abuse and neglect. We grew up together — which means I didn't see the ripple effects of her early trauma for what they were. It was just life. It was just our family.
My parents surrounded her with love, a good education, and a faith community that believed in new starts. And still, something wasn't reaching her. Behind her behaviors were needs that no one — not even the people who loved her most — knew how to meet.
That question never left me. Why isn't love enough — and what does it take to actually heal?
It's the question that drove every degree, every training, every hour I've spent in a therapy room.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Most people expect trauma therapy to take years. ART is different. It's an evidence-based approach that helps the brain reprocess painful memories and experiences — often in far fewer sessions than traditional talk therapy. I use it with clients ages 10 through adulthood who are ready to move through the pain rather than just manage it.
Trust Based Relational Therapy (TBRI)
Developed specifically for children from hard places — foster care, adoption, early neglect or abuse — TBRI works by addressing the root of behavior rather than just the behavior itself. It's also something I teach parents, because the most powerful TBRI happens at home, not in my office.
Gottman Method
When trauma ripples into a relationship or marriage, the couple often needs their own support. Gottman Method is one of the most researched approaches to couples therapy in the world. I use it to help partners rebuild trust, communication, and connection — even when things feel very broken.
APSAT - Betrayal Trauma
For partners navigating the specific devastation of betrayal — affairs, hidden pornography use, deception — I have specialized training through the Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists. This isn't general couples work. It's a trauma-informed approach designed specifically for what betrayal does to a person's sense of self and safety.
Not sure which of these applies to you? That's okay — most people aren't. Reach out and we'll figure it out together.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Getting started is simple. Reach out through the contact form or give me a call to schedule a consultation. Together we can decide if it feels like a good fit. I offer both in-person and telehealth services.
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Hopeful Connections Counseling is located on S. Vista Avenue (Airport exit) in Boise, Idaho — and available via telehealth throughout Idaho.
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For those who desire to integrate their Christian faith into their healing journey, it can be included in counseling. It is your choice and never assumed or required.
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I am currently in the process of becoming credentialed with several insurance providers. In the meantime, I'm happy to provide a superbill — a detailed receipt you can submit directly to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.
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More often than not, clients are surprised when we pause to review progress and realize they've already met the goals they came in with. We'll set clear goals from the start and check in regularly — so you always know where you are in the process.
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I feel strongly that parents are their child's greatest support. I collaborate with parents on goals from the start and typically invite you in for the last 10 minutes of your child's session. This isn't one-size-fits-all — let's figure out together what works best for your family.
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I work with children ages 8 and up, teens, and adults — including parents and partners navigating the impact of trauma in their family.
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Then let's talk. I'm always happy to have a conversation to see if we're a good fit — and if I'm not the right person for what you need, I'll help point you toward someone who is. Getting the right support matters more to me than filling a spot on my caseload.
If you’ve made it this far, something here spoke to you.
Maybe you're not sure therapy is the right step. Maybe you're sure but nervous about taking it. Maybe you just want to talk to someone before committing to anything.
That's exactly what a consultation is for.
There's no pressure and no obligation — just a conversation to see if we're a good fit and to make sure you feel comfortable before we begin. You deserve to feel at ease with the person you're trusting with your family's story.
Prefer to reach out by phone or email first?
📞 208-917-3653