One of my favorite parts of being a trauma therapist and narcissistic abuse treatment clinician is supporting clients in cultivating more ease in life and safer, more authentic, and joyful relationships with themselves and others.

Many years ago, I was inspired to become a therapist after doing my own healing work in therapy. I wanted to provide a similar space of hope and healing that had been offered to me in difficult times. It's an honor and a joy for me to get to work with people every day who are on their healing paths. 

When I'm not at work, I love relaxing and hanging out with my family, spending time in nature near water, eating good food and cooking, enjoying live music and theater, visiting bookstores and independent movie theaters, practicing yoga, especially restorative yoga, gardening, and hanging out with our resident hummingbirds, and taking adventures both near and far.

Approach

I thoughtfully attune my approach to each client I work with, taking into consideration each person's history, goals, and preferred treatment modalities. I work collaboratively and flexibly, meeting clients where they are, session by session. 

For most who work with me, therapy will include some combination of talk therapy, EMDR, psychoeducation regarding the nervous system and other essential concepts, attachment exploration and work, mindfulness and self-compassion practices, parts work, and somatic processing work. 

I believe in providing psychoeducation to my clients, helping them understand the concepts and skills I share so they can adapt and make the concepts and skills their own. 

I'm a culturally responsive, LGBTQ+ affirming therapist, and a member of Counselors for Social Justice, a division of the American Counseling Association, that promotes social justice by confronting oppressive systems of power and privilege that affect professional counselors, our clients, and their families.

Experience

I bring over 20 years of clinical experience, holding licenses in Washington state, Oregon, and Nevada. Before establishing my first private practice thirteen years ago in Amherst, Massachusetts, I worked in the community mental health field in Vermont and later in Massachusetts, cumulatively, for nine years. 

During my time working in the community mental health field, I was fortunate to serve in a wide variety of settings and capacities, working with children, adults, and their families, including co-facilitating an Intensive Outpatient group that supported individuals in recovery from co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. 

Education, Certifications, & Training 

I hold a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Springfield College and am a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) with the National Board for Certified Counselors. I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington state, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon, and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Nevada. 

Based in the Portland/Vancouver metro area, I work with clients online throughout the states of Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. 

Additional certifications include:

• Fully trained EMDR practitioner since 2013 and  an EMDRIA-certified practitioner since 2016
• 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT)
• Currently working toward certification as a Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician (NATC)
• Multi-Modal Somatic Therapy Intensive Training and Certificate

Professional Memberships

I'm a member of the American Counseling Association, Counselors for Social Justice, and EMDRIA.