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 completed continuing education courses covering substance use treatment, trauma, PTSD, and 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 approach therapeutic work with individuals, romantic partners, and families compassionately, using ethics and research as my guide. I am a creative person and can utilize creative approaches, if acceptable and appropriate to you, during your therapeutic journey. 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.
