About Therapy

I am willing to go the distance with you.

Therapy can be extremely emotional and scary as you allow yourself to trust and be vulnerable.

I understand that just in any relationship, it takes time to build trust. I am willing to take the time to build that trust.

Clients have told me that when they have opened up with other therapists, the therapist isn’t comfortable going deep where the client needs to go and will “drop” the client. I am NOT that therapist.

I have a calm, welcoming demeanor, which is important for people who have had difficult experiences in life. You will also find that I will not judge you.

I have no expectations other than you showing up and being fully engaged in therapy. You are the most important person in the room, and my primary goal is to help you become the person you want to be.

This is what I want for you…

I want you to have a safe haven.

I have worked hard to make my office warm and inviting and create a safe place for you to address those tough subjects. Therapy is focused on you and your goals, and we start where you are right now. There are no judgments, and we go at your pace.

I want you to be able to face the world on your own.

Imagine being able to face the challenges of the day knowing you have the necessary skills in place to deal with just about anything. Knowing that if something bad happens, you might be irritated or frustrated, but not with the emotional intensity you have experienced in the past. It is possible, and it is within reach.

I want you to lead a happy, peaceful, and productive life.

I have worked with clients who have been diagnosed with some pretty significant diagnoses. Through our hard work together, they have come out the other side of therapy, no longer meeting the criteria for the diagnosis. They have set healthy boundaries that have led to healthy, secure relationships, being gainfully employed with the skills to handle tough situations in a healthy way.

Giving you the tools, knowledge, and confidence you need…

I believe everyone innately can create better health and a better life.

We will strengthen your internal support by developing abilities and skills such as communication, problem-solving, behavioral and emotional regulation, hope, and a positive view of oneself that fosters caring, supportive relationships with friends, family, and neighbors. And cultivate cultural values and faith/belief systems.

My approach is direct and honest.

You know that friend that tells you what you need to hear even if it stings a little? If everyone tells us what we want to hear, pats us on the hand, and kisses our forehead, it doesn’t leave much room for growth or change. Sometimes we all need a reality check, right??

Well… I am that person.

My clients tell me I’m a hard-ass because I tell them the truth about themselves (which is sometimes hard to hear), but they know it comes from a place of love and concern for them.

I told a client who was having the same problem with several different people in her life that perhaps the problem wasn’t others – maybe the problem was her. She was upset with me at first but a few days later told me she appreciated my honesty and that I cared for her enough to tell her the truth.

I am also compassionate and insightful… I inspire hope and reassurance.

You will find that I listen and provide a space where clients can cry or express whatever they need during our sessions together – even if it means not talking. I am that source of stability for many clients they count on when they don’t feel they can count on anyone else. Having stability in their lives helps promote hope and reassurance that someone cares.

About Me

I am passionate about what I do.

Growing up, when people said hurtful things, I was taught to “let it roll off like water on a duck’s back.” As a result, when people said mean things to me, I never stood up for myself. I would just take it.

After I graduated from high school, I went to work at a local state park. A camper rolled up and read me the riot act about the fees. A co-worker heard what the camper said and noticed I didn’t stick up for myself. He pulled me aside and said, “Annette, you don’t get paid enough to put up with that kind of treatment. You don’t have to put up with it from anyone.”

For the next four years, he would go out of his way to say or do things to see if I would stick up for myself. If I didn’t, he would get mad at me and say, “Damn it, Annette, don’t put up with this from me or anyone else.” It took four years, but I finally decided he was right, and I started to speak up. He helped me find my voice, and my life has never been the same!

I want to help others transform their lives like this co-worker helped me. I love watching clients who have struggled for years do the necessary hard work and come out the other side happy, confident, and in some cases truly living and excited about life. That is where I find the most joy in my profession.

Some of my education and experience…

I originally went to school majoring in criminal justice administration. About three credits away from graduating, I decided I wanted to help people in a different way. Criminal justice was too punitive for me, and I didn’t want to be a cop.

I took a psychology class where the instructor talked about his experience of working with sexual predators. I was disgusted and fascinated at the same time. So, I completed my bachelor’s degree and then took a couple more psychology classes which led to getting a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Phoenix.

I have worked in community mental health as a therapist since 2012, working with a wide variety of clients, including those who struggle with severe mental illnesses, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and trauma. I have found that I loved working with the substance abuse and trauma populations.

I have been trained or certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EDMR), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Neurofeedback, as well as other evidence-based trauma treatment and interventions. I am also working toward becoming a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP).

When I am not doing therapy…

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy riding horses, paddle boarding, reading, and being outdoors.

You can find peace.

It’s within your reach. I can help.

Together, we will work through the pain you are going through, at your pace, judgment-free. You are the most important person in the room.

Our process will teach you effective coping skills to manage these difficult thoughts and emotions in healthy ways. Together, we’ll face your challenges so you can put them behind you and live the life you’ve been so desperately seeking.

Call me for a free 15-minute consultation to get started: (307) 444-2308.

I will ask you questions, and it will give us a chance to get to know each other a little and see if we will be a good fit.