Tell us a little about you:
Oh where to begin! I’m a single mom with 2 kids and a dog. I served in the Navy, have lived overseas, and started on my own pretty young. I sing in a “band” (really an acoustic duet) for fun and I like being physically active. I played roller derby, I like playing cards and board games, and have somehow managed to keep my plants alive for over a year which is huge for me! I love to laugh and eat, and hope one day to make it to Banff National Park in Canada (it’s on my bucket list).
What inspired you to work as a therapist?
Honestly, what inspired me to work as a therapist was my own therapist! She didn’t do it on purpose of course, but my time with her was so powerful and I had already been working with clients in a similar but different context and I wanted to do for others what she helped do for me. It was how she made me feel (safe and heard), and it was what she led me to (a journey of discovery and healing), that helped me to realize there was no coincidence in the events that have culminated my life… all the good and all the bad, I believe… was for a moment such as this. To me there is no better job, and I consider it a great privilege and responsibility to get the chance to be a part of someone’s life in this way.
What’s one personal value you hold dear as a therapist and why is it important to you?
One personal value that I hold dear is humility. I’ve joked a lot that I like my humble pie served a la mode please! I want to be wise in my personal life, and I’m not embarrassed by the fact that I have fallen short of that more times than I’d like to admit… but I will admit it nonetheless. Pride can be a good thing, but for me, the times when I’ve been able to humble myself and get real have been the best moments of growth, discernment, and appreciation.
What is your approach to making change in therapy?
I’d like to think that I take a gentle and curious approach, but I’m all about meeting someone where they’re at. I like to acknowledge the sometimes awkward and often painful parts of doing therapy. I use humor when I can, silence when it feels right, and really hope I can help my clients learn to have compassion toward themselves. At the very least, I remind my clients why they have come to see me and to check in often to make sure they are moving in the direction they want to; I’m simply a facilitator… someone to walk alongside, observe, suggest, challenge, and hold space for whatever happens to come out during our time together.
After a long work-week, how do you de-stress and unwind?
I do have a few “go-to’s”, so I think it just depends on how I’m feeling. I love getting foot massages and will never turn them down, I destress and process while walking my dog (I do that a lot), I love singing and dancing, and of course…. eating something comforting to me (usually pizza or rice ramen – like top ramen but with rice noodles).
