Meet Courtney

Hi! I'm Courtney.

Depending on who's looking for me, I answer to a lot of names—Mommy, Mama, Maaaah!, Coach, Therapist...and these days, some people even know me as "The Pickle Therapist"—a nickname born from my love of pickleball and my belief that some of life's best lessons happen both on and off the court.

If you're here, you're probably looking for Courtney. I'm really glad you found your way here.

I wish there were words big enough to explain what this profession means to me.

Every individual, couple, and family who has trusted me with their story has shaped me in ways I never expected. Your willingness to be honest, vulnerable, and courageous continually reminds me to live with greater humility, compassion, and intention. It truly is one of the greatest privileges of my life to help people rediscover hope and move toward becoming the version of themselves they were created to be.

Before I was a therapist, I was an athlete. For years, I learned what it meant to be part of a team. Those experiences taught me that relationships matter. We simply aren't designed to do life alone.

While I eventually hung up my basketball shoes, I realized I never stopped being a teammate.

Today, I simply coach from a different sideline.

Whether you're navigating anxiety, relationship struggles, grief, trauma, life transitions, or simply feeling stuck, my role isn't to "fix" you. It's to help you discover the strengths, wisdom, and resilience that already exist within you while providing support, challenge, and accountability along the way.

My Approach

I believe therapy begins with connection.

Research consistently tells us that one of the strongest predictors of meaningful change isn't a particular therapy technique—it's the relationship between client and therapist. That's something I don't take lightly.

I strive to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are—without pretending, performing, or having everything figured out. You'll find plenty of compassion in our work together, but I'll also challenge you when growth calls for it. I often tell clients, "Two things can be true at the same time." We can honor your pain while also helping you move toward the life you want to live.

My therapeutic approach is integrative and tailored to the unique needs of each client. I draw from evidence-based models including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Structural Family Therapy, and Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

One of the approaches that has become especially meaningful in my work is Internal Family Systems. IFS helps us understand that we all have different "parts" of ourselves—parts that protect us, parts that carry pain, and parts that simply want to be heard. Rather than fighting against ourselves, we learn to lead ourselves with greater curiosity, compassion, and confidence. Watching clients experience that kind of freedom never gets old.

I primarily work with adults, couples, and families, helping them strengthen relationships, navigate life's challenges, and reconnect with who they are beneath the stress, fear, and expectations they've been carrying.

In addition to seeing clients, I'm passionate about developing other clinicians. As a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S), I provide supervision for Associate Licensed Counselors throughout Alabama. I'm also an AAMFT Approved Supervisor in Training, providing supervision for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Interns and Associates as they grow into confident, ethical therapists.

And because life should include a little fun, when I'm not in the therapy room you'll likely find me on a pickleball court. Fair warning: I may use a sports analogy in session from time to time...and if I accidentally compare emotional regulation to resetting after an unforced error, just know it's because both are surprisingly effective.

Closing

Whether we're working together through counseling, supervision, or a future speaking engagement, my hope is that you'll leave every interaction feeling seen, supported, and reminded that you were never meant to carry life alone.

You don't have to walk into my office having all the answers. Just bring yourself. We'll figure out the rest together.

Whether this is your first experience with therapy or you've been on this journey before, I'm honored you're here. Taking the first step isn't always easy, but it can be the beginning of something life-changing.

"In case nobody told you today...you're special." — Lizzo