Biography

Looking up at my family pictures before, during and after sessions reminds me that we never have to be alone and we can take the blessings of our past as a prescription of wellness.

A couple of chairs including my rocker were probably made by those Indiana farm people who were so practical that they even worked in what we might call “wellness centers” of their day. Those Swiss Germans brought over the concept of the “Sanitorium” a place that prescribed the “medicine” of rest, healthy eating and plenty of sunshine. Such practical “sanity” is truly a gift.

I remember seeing this common sense approach in my mom--Ginny Alston as she worked as director of the Family Program at Cumberland Heights Treatment Program in Nashville. People still tell me little sayings that she passed along, such as “If a loved one called you “a chair”, would you believe you were a chair?”

From these experiences—family and professional I believe that psychotherapy is a combination of finding and telling our story. It is a way of truly finding a healthier lifestyle. We might think of these office visits as “therapeutic tune-ups” . Sometimes we have to admit that we take better care of our vehicles than we do our selves.

As a therapist I’ll coach you on ways you can keep your mind in good “running order”. Working together—client and therapist, we will find the best resources to learn and to get support for the courageous process of healing and self-discovery.