About Me
Growing up in Washington I was fortunate to have access to the outdoors and recreation. I enjoy water skiing, sailing, day hikes, and trips to the beach. I enjoy the arts, particularly jewelry making and painting. I cherish time with family and friends, especially over a good meal.

My Experience
I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Washington and my Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Seattle University. I was drawn to being a therapist during my undergraduate studies when I began to realize the capacity that humans have to gain awareness, change, and grow.

As a clinical intern at Renton Area Youth and Family services, I provided counseling and case management to youth and families in school, home, and agency-based settings. Next, I worked in Snohomish County as a Child and Family Therapist providing long term psychotherapy to children, adults, and families. I coordinated treatment with multidisciplinary teams of professionals providing intensive wraparound services to clients with severe, complex and persistent mental health problems. Currently, I work at a nonprofit organization providing counseling, case management, intensive wraparound services, and crisis management to families in King County.

I have experience and training in assessment, diagnosis, and the development of culturally-appropriate client treatment plans. I utilize various modalities of talk, art, and sand tray therapies and am knowledgeable of treatment approaches for individual, family and group therapy. I keep familiar of developments in theory and research and undertake continue professional development.

I have a special interest in working with the bereaved as part of my general counseling practice. I work with the goal of helping individuals grieve and address personal loss in a healthy way. This can be the loss of a loved one, loss of a pet, and other types of loss, such as the loss of goals, ideals, relationships, etc.

I participate in weekly individual and group consultation with colleagues and supervisors. I demonstrates strong ethical standards and professional boundaries in compliance with federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations governing mental health treatment.

My Approach
I do not have a cookie-cutter approach to counseling. You will receive an integrated, personalized, authentic experience during our time together.

I believe that people are continually engaged in a process of remaking and discovering themselves. We do not have a static identity, but discover new facets of our being as we face new challenges. Therapy can be a wonderful tool to help you move in certain directions.

Sometimes people just need to "re-own" parts of themselves and by gaining some awareness, one can make informed choices and thus live a more meaningful existence. Often we carry unnecessary emotional debris that clutters our current existence, and causes us to get "stuck." My task is to help you get through the impasse so that growth is possible.

My Mission
My goal is to help you attain awareness, and with it, greater choice. Awareness includes knowing your environment, knowing yourself, accepting yourself, and the ability to make contact with those things. With awareness, you will possess the tools for change, have the capacity to face and accept new challenges, and fully express your aliveness.

My other mission is to be responsible for the quality of my presence, for knowing myself and you, and for remaining open to you. I will strive to establish and maintain a healthy therapeutic atmosphere with emphasis on being present, having authentic dialogue and direct self expression, maintaining gentleness, and trusting your experience.