About Me

I am passionate about helping people to cope with cancer more easily, heal from the emotional impact cancer has had on their lives, and move forward to create lives they love.

One thing you should know about me is that I’ve “been there.” On the road to becoming who I am today, I experienced several major life challenges, including my cancer diagnosis. I have come out the other side of these to be a more compassionate and understanding person. I think I have become an expert at bouncing back and moving forward, and I believe that this ability has made me better able to help others on their journeys. I practice what I preach and I walk the talk. I would never suggest to anyone anything I wouldn’t try myself. I don’t believe in a “right” and “wrong” way to get through hard times. I do my own personal work on a daily basis and do my best to stay physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy.

I am a living example that counseling and coaching works, because I have been able to handle everything that has come my way thus far, and trust in myself enough that I would be able to cope with whatever life presents me in the future. Engaging in counseling, therapy, and coaching has helped me to grow, heal from my experiences, learn about and accept myself, and create a life I love. My goal is to be able to help others as much as my counselors, coaches, and mentors have helped me. My master’s degree and licensure as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor have enabled me to work toward this goal.

I help people develop real-life strategies to cope with cancer, heal from the experience, and move forward in their lives. I know how important it is to have a plan and practical approaches you can use in your life right away. I understand that you come to counseling and coaching for a reason, and are expecting a good outcome. One of my strengths is in helping people come up with practical solutions that work in their particular circumstances.

I am able to hear stories of struggle and pain in a way that validates and empowers people. I have found that I have a great capacity to sit with people through tremendous pain and struggle. Many people affected by cancer feel that they have to “protect” other people in their lives by holding back their feelings and thoughts about what they are going through, so that others don’t get more upset. When working with me, you will feel free to discuss your deepest fears and hopes, your truest feelings, without the concern about whether or not the person you are talking to can “handle it.”

I am “down to earth.” Often, people who don’t think they would like to go to counseling at first find that they benefit from my practical approach and ability to relate to people from all walks of life. I am not the type of therapist you see in the movies or on TV that analyzes your personality or your subconscious reasons for doing things, or the kind that has you lie on a couch and talk about your childhood endlessly. I help you to look for realistic and useful strategies and solutions to problems. I truly care about helping you decrease your pain and increase your happiness. I tend to be grounded in reality and will tell it like it is, with a healthy optimism for the future. I will help you to find hope and if needed will hold onto it for you until you can hold it for yourself.

Now that you know more about me, you can find out more about My Cancer Journey or check out the Free Stuff on this site.

To schedule a session or set up an initial phone consultation at no charge, call me at 207-773-1143 or email me at dawn[at]awakeningcounseling.com.