ABOUT TERA
Education + Life Experience
I received my master's in family sciences at the COAMFTE-accredited Marriage & Family Therapy program at the University of Kentucky. While completing the program, I received clinical experience as an intern therapist at the UK Family Center, became certified as a Gottmann Level 1 Couples Therapist, studied Emotionally Focused Therapy, play therapy, sex therapy, researched gender socialization, and participated in the Sexual Health Promotion Lab, led by Dr. Kristen Mark.
Following graduation, I continued studying complex trauma and sex therapy, and have completed continuing education courses covering substance use treatment, trauma, PTSD, and also trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). I have been a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy since 2018. From 2022 to 2023 I studied psychodynamic psychotherapy through the Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute's consultation program. I am continuing to study psychodynamic psychotherapy through the Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy at Loyola University.
I approach therapeutic work with individuals, romantic partners, and families compassionately, using ethics and research as my guide. You can expect me to be observant, creative, empathic, professional, ethical, and responsive. If acceptable and appropriate to you, I can utilize creative approaches as a part of your therapy. I have studied performance, improvisational comedy, storytelling, drawing, and puppetry.
I value compassion, authenticity, connection, and humor.
Pronouns: She, her, hers
SPECIALITIES
All people are welcome to my practice. I enjoy working with clients of varying backgrounds and ages, who are dealing with issues related to familial, romantic, and work relationships; anxiety; trauma; depression; trust; self-worth; alexithymia; self-actualization; personal development; adolescent struggles; life transitions; sex and sexuality; gender; and existential questions.
The couple and family therapy approach, which forms my educational foundation, takes into account the various contexts (family, sexuality, school, religion, culture, ethnicity, race, socio-economic background, & others) that each of us interacts with to offer a better understanding of behaviors and decisions. I use a combination of bottom-up and top-down processing approaches, integrating somatic, cognitive, and client-centered modalities.
Research has shown that working not just with the person who is struggling, but also with those in their lives, offers the most lasting and impactful changes.
