Tell us a little about you.
I am a Midwesterner at heart, born and raised in Wisconsin. After attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Go Badgers!), I moved across country to the amazing city of San Diego. I have master’s degrees in Kinesiology from A.T. Still University and Counseling (Specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy) from National University. I have a love of learning, traveling, and curiosity – my last trip was to England and Italy and my dream is to continue traveling the world!
What inspired you to work as a therapist?
For a long time, I pursued my passion as a personal trainer to help others attain the healthy lifestyle that they desired. While I still wholly believe in the life-changing benefits of physical health, I found that emotional and mental well-being are essential to healing, fulfillment, and inner peace. I understand the pain and hurt that we all go through, and hope to facilitate a holistic healing experience for my clients.
What’s one personal value you hold dear as a therapist and why is it important to you?
Vulnerability. We are all human and we all make mistakes. Being vulnerable opens doors to more healing, possibilities, understanding, and connection. I truly value the courage it takes to be vulnerable in the therapy space.
What is your approach to making change in therapy?
I believe that the first step toward change is developing awareness and insight to one’s current behavioral patterns, coping strategies, and internal world of emotions. We cannot know where we are going until we understand where we are. However, once we tap into better understanding of how we experience the world, we can create shifts in our lives that facilitate the fulfillment, connection, etc. that we long for. I recognize the bravery that it takes to change and am here to facilitate the process.
After a long work week, how do you de-stress and unwind?
I love to de-stress and unwind physically by lifting weights, going to hot yoga, hiking, and walking by the bay. When I am feeling creative, you can find me painting or drawing, reading, and/or re-decorating (I love creating spaces that feel comforting and cozy).
