Abby’s therapy approach celebrates the uniqueness of each of her clients, recognizing that great therapeutic work is highly dependent on the client-therapist relationship.

Systemic, Experiential, and Emotionally Focused Therapy are some of what informs Abby’s therapeutic approach. Finding the right therapist can be an intimidating task. She knows this and seeks to welcome clients in with warmth and genuine curiosity.

Abby enters this field with over 15 years of experience in ministry, serving a wide range of individuals, including children, adolescents, college students, and women. Abby’s undergraduate is from Taylor University with a Communication Studies major and a Theatre Arts minor. Her background in improvisational work helps her creatively engage clients, forming a strong collaborative dynamic. Abby attained her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at Wheaton College. She is married and has four children and a dog. Outside of this work, she enjoys teaching fitness and dance classes, serving in her church, creating art, and connecting with friends.

What is my approach to therapy and my clients?

All people and their behaviors make sense once you know their stories.

As a mother of four children, I am familiar with the complex and layered emotions being a parent can evoke. All-consuming love, grief, confusion, guilt, and countless other feelings pave the path of parenthood. If you are a parent and feel alone or lost, I would love to walk alongside you, providing you a safe place to grow.

As a wife, married for about 20 years, I am familiar with the seasons and challenges marriages can present. So often, couples suffer in silence and isolation, afraid to share their struggles with friends and family. As a marriage and family therapist, I would love to offer you and your spouse a space to learn how to navigate your marriage, whatever stage you are in.

I have worked with young men and women within the ministry context for years. I have held space for those addicted to pornography, self-harm, or desire to end their life. Childhood into early adulthood is a complex and overwhelming time in life. The world has so many messages and pressures that it can feel impossible. I can offer you a place to process life and discover who you want to be and how to grow into that person.

I have a faith background; is that okay to talk about in therapy?

I, too, have a faith background and find my most vital support in Jesus. Anything that helps us manage our lives is essential to the therapy process. If you want to incorporate faith into our therapy sessions, I am happy to include that.

I am skeptical about therapy; why should I try it?

Therapy used to be an unfamiliar world to me and one I viewed as only for people with severe situations and traumas. How wrong I was. If you are on the fence, I would challenge you to try it for one month and see if you benefit. You won’t know all it offers unless you are willing to try it.

How can I know if my therapist is a good fit?

A good therapeutic fit should make you feel safe to be yourself. If you don’t feel correctly seen or understood by your therapist, it will be hard to grow. Find someone who you want to grow with. Growth is often uncomfortable initially, but you want a therapist who pushes you to grow by challenging and helping you identify unhelpful patterns in your thinking or living. Finding a good fit therapeutically is worth it because so much of your progress depends on that collaborative relationship.