I had almost given up on therapy but a friend that urged me to meet with Yvonne so I reluctantly scheduled an appointment. I was going to see Yvonne for my struggles with eating disorders and body image. I did not intend to share my darkest secrets with her. I was going to withhold that I hated my job, I had financial struggles, a controlling mother, and a husband that was an addict. Yvonne in our very first session somehow very effortlessly but gently excavated the truth. I was determined not to disclose certain issues to her and yet somehow she knew that being overweight was attributed to something greater. After our first session, I not only wanted to continue seeing her but I desperately needed to. My husband had a 16-year-old child from his previous marriage. His ex-wife lost her battle with cancer and in the time to come my husband would lose his own life to health issues related to his addictions. Not only did I become a widow and a stepmother I also became a single mother in what seemed overnight. Yvonne helped me with my guilt, despair, grief and sorrow, but she also gave me parenting tools on not only how to cope with a teenager but one who has experienced such immense trauma. Consequently, Yvonne also treats my daughter, and I cannot say enough how much the experience has helped her heal and given her self-esteem. Since seeing Yvonne I have had incredible challenges of which she has been my unyielding, non-judgmental support.

I have also experienced some great milestones as well and she has been there every step of the way to celebrate my victories. I completed both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in a very short time. I lost over fifty pounds and counting. Yvonne has me on a financial budget and even taking strides towards starting my own business. I know without a doubt that I could not have had any of these breakthroughs without her assistance. She has shared unfiltered sometimes-hard truths but she has also been my greatest encourager. Yvonne is a genius. I work in Academia and am surrounded by many intelligent people, but I can honestly say that Yvonne has profound wisdom beyond anyone I know.

Besides this, she is just not your typical clinician. She is downright cool and relatable, which is why she has been able to get to the core of me where others have failed. She is the real deal. I trust her and coming from a place where I have not been able to trust many this has been life altering. When I am in her presence, I know that I am with a good soul that not only is an expert in her field but that genuinely wants the best for me and wants me to succeed. Although she will never give herself credit, I know God has used her as an instrument in my life not only for mental health but also on my search to finding myself and my life’s purpose.