I have been employed in teaching, supervisory and case management/counseling positions for the past 30 years.  My areas of expertise include the following: assessment, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating individual program plans for all clients involved. In addition, I have taught substance abuse, anger management, cognitive awareness, restorative justice, and social skills groups. It is my belief that through counseling, in either a group or individual setting, an individual can become more accepting of themselves, and they are more capable of finding happiness and contentment in their lives. Self-awareness and self-acceptance are goals that sometimes take a long time to achieve. Clients are in complete control and may end the group and/or counseling relationship at any point.  I promise to be supportive of that decision. There are both benefits and risks associated with group and/or counseling. Risks can sometimes include experiencing uncomfortable levels of feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, and helplessness. Group and/or counseling often require recalling unpleasant aspects of your history. On the other hand, it can have benefits for those who undertake it. It often leads to a significant reduction of feelings of distress, to better relationships, and resolution of specific problems.  I have worked with individuals from all walks of life, to include those with diverse social, financial, educational, and emotional backgrounds. My experiences have taught me the extreme importance of sound organizational and people skills.