My style is trauma-informed, person-centered, and feedback-informed. I involve the individual from our first appointment in exploring and identifying their goal for therapy, creating a measurable and realistic goal; creating a plan that feels feasible for the individual, and using feedback to measure progress and therapeutic alliance along the way to inform treatment and readiness for graduation. I am a firm believer in "beginning therapy with the end in mind" and keeping the therapeutic space a working space where we work to gain insight and resolve problems all while at the pace and readiness of the individual.

I became a mental health professional because I was working in the field of child development with children and families who faced a lot of adversity, requiring support beyond education. In addition to this, my late husband was diagnosed with cancer, and navigating the medical system with a terminal illness highlighted the need for mental health as a priority in treatment. I went back to school to be able to make the kind of impact that felt fulfilling.

Travel, food, animals, and spending time with my family exploring anything we can.

This is a tough one because my reading time tends to only happen during vacation. For this reason, I tend to enjoy books that are memoirs or collections of essays because they feel easier to pick up at any time.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society — My late husband had B-Cell ALL and we fought the valiant fight from 2012-2015. In times of better health and energy, my late husband also volunteered for the LLS. They offer a lot of great support and are close to my heart. SPCA- Goodness who doesn't love the idea of sweet animals finding their fur-ever homes? I also love that the SPCA offers opportunities for teens and parents to volunteer together.

I recharge in a few basic ways such as a good quiet night in, game night with friends, time with my family, and getting to travel (always allows me to feel recharged).

I have THREE dogs, an American Staffordshire bull Terrier (age 14 1/2); a long-haired Mini Dachshund (13), and a French Bulldog (5-ish). They are a sight to see! Sometimes we joke that the toddler thinks she’s the fourth in the way she runs around and attempts to engage them.