My Education, Training, and Experience
I am a licensed marriage and family therapy associate (WA license # MG61306001). My training includes a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University.
I work with individuals, families, and couples of all ages and backgrounds.
Issues I address include lifecycle transitions (i.e., youth-to-adult, empty nest, midlife, and retirement), post-partum, parent coaching, caregiver support, neurodiversity, couples counseling, chronic illnesses, elder care, divorce recovery, and grief counseling.
My clinical training brought me to diverse populations throughout the Puget Sound region. I was privileged to work with indigenous, immigrant, and military communities in urban as well as rural settings.
Creative expression and social narratives have always fascinated me. As a college student, I received my bachelor’s degree in English Literature with an emphasis on creative writing. Post college, I embarked on a winding career path that ultimately brought me to my work as an MFT. This encompassed work in public relations, non-profit leadership, and caregiving for different medical and neurodiversity needs. Along the way, I continued to find that I felt most gratified when engaging in conversations that explore the human experience.
In addition to private practice, I also volunteer locally by teaching social-emotional learning at Kids In Concert, an after-school program based in Suquamish.
My Therapeutic Orientation
I chose this branch of psychology (Marriage & Family Therapy) for its emphasis on systemic and relational approaches to wellness as I appreciate the power of interconnectedness.
My methods combine an integrative approach using several theoretical modalities*. This involves nurturing curiosity and self-compassion as we explore stories connected to one’s emotions, including how they are experienced in one’s body, thereby increasing self-awareness and self-regulation along the way.
Because life changes can feel destabilizing, I support my clients by helping them clarify their values and by fostering their sense of rootedness within these intentional values.
Collaboratively defining and experiencing shared meaning within relationships is another way that I work with clients as they re-write their lives together.
*Further reading on the modalities that inspire my work: