Kami Jo is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Wisconsin. She earned her Master’s degree at Northern Illinois University’s COAMFT accredited program for Marriage & Family Therapy in 2005. Kami Jo has been a clinical member of AAMFT, as well as the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).  She has also been granted Board Certification as a Professional Christian Counselor by AACC. She has completed various trainings in working with trauma, including EMDR and advanced training in the treatment of complex post traumatic stress and neuro-dissociative states.  Her areas of special interest include women’s issues, trauma, anxiety and depression, relationship difficulties, couples counseling, child behavioral problems, and family stress.

What you can expect in working with me...

I believe in a collaborative approach to therapy.  You and I will work together to discover what is holding you back from reaching your therapeutic goals.  I will both encourage and challenge you to meet those goals.  Ultimately, the Lord is our Wonderful Counselor and His Word is our source for dealing with life’s challenges.  He has also blessed us with study in the field of therapy that has led to evidence-based practices, giving us wisdom as we approach a range of mental health issues.

As a trained marriage and family therapist, I view people from a systemic approach, realizing our lives exist in the context of our families, jobs, schools, community, etc.  Often we become entrenched in patterns over time that are unhelpful for our functioning, yet we maintain them because it’s what we know.  We have understandable reasons for maintaining these patterns, and need to gain insight in order to let them go and move forward.  Change is not as simple as saying “do better”, we may need help to understand how to make changes effectively.  When we are stuck in self-criticism, shaming ourselves as a way of trying to promote change, we become discouraged and likely do not move.  However, when we can apply God’s grace and self-compassion while holding ourselves accountable for change, we can heal.  Advances in the field of interpersonal neurobiology have greatly added to our understanding in how to make these changes.     

I use an integrated array of therapeutic approaches and techniques to promote change, including experiential, cognitive-behavioral, and psycho-educational techniques.  It is important to me to pair techniques with the client’s particular needs and way of working. 

I have a special area of interest in working with trauma, and have committed to learning and studying ways to be a more effective partner in healing.  I am EMDR trained and have completed other complex trauma –related specialty training.  Any kind of therapy takes a brave commitment from the client, to be open and vulnerable, often in a way you never have before.  I respect and honor that commitment from you, whatever your present struggle.  I will work to help you respect and honor yourself in a similar way.