My career path began very differently from where I am now. I initially set off into adulthood on my way to becoming a veterinarian. I still deeply love animals, currently my family shares our life with two dogs and two cats, all rescues, but working with people is where my work was supposed to be.
After I gave birth to my daughter, navigated an abusive marriage and a contentious divorce, I knew my path had changed and I followed my desire and passion to empower individuals as they work towards a place of healing by becoming a mental health counselor. I began graduate school as a single parent, choosing a program that’s schedule worked best for my reality and which provided stability in the form of a cohort model. I am forever grateful for the community I found amongst the other healers in my cohort during those two years as well as my year long YWCA internship. I have now been in private practice for over a decade and I truly enjoy getting to hold space for peoples healing journeys.
As a late diagnosed neurospicy person myself, and a parent to three neurospicy children, I appreciate the social model of disability which means I use a counseling approach that is integrative and client-centered. I pull from different theoretical styles in order to best serve the client and suit their needs and goals. I view the counseling relationship as a collaborative partnership, based on honesty and trust, in which we jointly bring about resolution and healing.
I am influenced by Integral Psychology and Depth Psychology. Therefore, I will address the client as a whole person, taking into consideration the many interrelated parts of the human being (biological, emotional, cognitive, relational, cultural, and spiritual) allowing for a more complete understanding of the individual and their unique life circumstances. My role as a healer is not to heal you, instead it is to reflect the deep knowing you already possess and create the container for your own healing work.
As your counselor, I aim to provide a safe and empathetic environment to explore thoughts, feelings, and goals. I will help you to identify strengths and areas of growth and change, while working towards self-acceptance and satisfaction in your relationships. While therapy can help to bring about welcome change, the process may at times give rise to uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or memories. The way to a life of peace may not be without effort, but the freedom that results is a treasure that no one can take away from you.
I enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families in the following areas of focus:
- anxiety
- depression
- Neurodivergence (late diagnosis, parenting neurodiverse children, supporting a neurodiverse partner)
- interpersonal relationship issues
- life transitions
- grief and loss
- trauma history (childhood traumas, sexual abuse, sexual assault, traumatic grief, domestic violence history)
- pregnancy issues (conception struggles, pregnancy loss, pregnancy termination)
- postpartum issues (birth trauma, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, breastfeeding support)
Education
- Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology, Northwest University 2014
- Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience, WSU 2004
Certifications
- lactation educator
- postpartum doula