I have worked in community mental health for the past 7 years and in private practice for the last 2 years. I have found the best approach to therapy is with an open, nonjudgmental perspective, as each individual's life stressors impact them in a unique way. My goal is to build a trusting relationship and get to know my clients first, then work together to determine what might be getting in the way of their goals and create a success plan. I am a strong believer that our mind and body are intricately connected, so I focus on how our bodies respond just as equally to how our minds affect the way we think, feel, and behave.

Currently, I work with clients who are having difficulty managing thoughts of anxiety, and feelings of depression, or find themselves with challenges associated with sleep, stress, and burnout. My goal is to help you bridge together your mind and body awareness with the intention of learning how to care for your whole person.

Growing up in a culture where mental health isn't as easily received, I had difficulty navigating my anxiety and understanding what it was exactly. As I got older, had 6 nieces, and realized that anxiety runs very high in our family, I got into the field to heal myself and help others in similar situations; starting with my eldest niece. In the last 7 years working in community mental health, I have witnessed a lot of individuals navigating their first mental difficulties and feel grateful to be of support to them, as I know how isolating and scary it can be. I take it as an ongoing journey, for my mental health and for the clients who allow me to join in their personal journeys.

Anytime I can escape to nature, that is the best way I recharge. I enjoy hiking, reading, walking my two dogs, and sometimes dabbling in some paint. Traveling is always my first choice, whenever possible. It helps me expand my perspective every time I am lucky enough to visit a new place. Depending on what I am needing at that moment to refresh the soul; sometimes just a good book or a three-day backpacking trip to completely disconnect.

I try to write daily, usually at night, as a way to document special moments of the day and also as a way to "mentally dump" any stressors of the day. I have found it to be a great way to process hard emotions and/or highlight the successes of my life. It has been a nice experience when I have gone back to read writing excerpts from years back and see how my personal growth had developed over the years.

I recently finished, Unwinding Anxiety by Judson Brewer, and it taught me so much about different perspectives and interventions for dealing with anxiety on multiple levels, that I read it twice, back to back. After I finished reading it, I ended up giving it to my eldest niece who has been battling her own troubles with anxiety. During this period, I was working primarily with a lot of clients dealing with substance use difficulties and found the methods in this book to be effective coping skills for this population. Additionally, I was able to learn other coping skills for managing my own levels of anxiety during stressful situations. The book gave real-life case examples, but also an extensive amount of biological context to how our brains and bodies react to anxiety. It filled me personally and professionally, which was a win-win in my book.

Recharging for me can range between drinking a warm tea with a good book, cuddling with my dogs or loved ones, or disconnecting completely with a camping trip outside of city lines to re-ground myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. I have learned that when under high levels of stress, your self-care must be impeccable; your cup has to be filled first before you can give to others your best self.

I have two dogs - Zita and Bailey. Zita is our two-year-old Australian Cattle dog with enough energy to play frisbee for hours! Bailey is our five-year-old Pitbull/Saint Bernard rescue mix who can sleep endlessly cuddled on her bed with a heavy blanket. My favorite pet story was when we first brought Zita into her new home, Bailey was so inviting to her new little sister. They cuddled together on Bailey’s bed that same night, and since then have really been inseparable! Their personalities balance each other out completely, and we were ecstatic that they were able to connect so quickly.