Who I Am

I was born in Charleston, SC but have lived in Colorado since age 3, so I consider myself a Colorado native. I grew up in Colorado Springs, where I enjoyed the natural beauty of the mountains. Currently, I live in the Denver metro area. In 2013, I lived in Vina Del Mar, Chile as a volunteer English teacher for school-aged children. It was a great experience and I visit there as often as I can!

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2004. In 2011, I went back to gain my Masters degree in Clinical Counseling from Adams State University. After taking a year off to volunteer in Chile, I finished my degree in 2015. Throughout my studies, I have worked various positions in human services, all focused on helping people. I've worked hands on with adults with disabilities, youth in conflict, and adults/children who have experienced severe trauma. My work experience has allowed me to assist a vast amount of individuals, including children and families for over 13 years. My goal is to help them grow and change. I have wanted to be a counselor since I graduated high school and I am very fortunate that this is my calling.

My specialties are helping people to process depression/anxiety, stress management, trauma, and to incorporate mindfulness techniques. My work as a counselor over the years has helped me understand the unique challenges that face all of us on a daily basis. I have learned that you must allow yourself time to heal, reflect, and learn from your experiences to become more resilient. My hope is that we can all practice finding balance, extending each other a bit more grace, and working toward understanding each other as human beings. 

Much of my work over the years has been rooted in Trauma informed care and Cognitive Behavior Therapy though I have expanded my practice to include Somatic Experiencing. My approach is to help others consider and notice that the way we think and interpret life's numerous challenges affects how we behave and feel. People often doubt themselves and their ability to cope with life, relationships and stressful situations and bombard themselves with negative self-talk. When this happens it impacts how we feel in life and impacts the world around us. My hope is that we can collectively work together to achieve a healthier balance within ourselves.