My background includes formal education, personal experience, clinical experience, teaching, and mindfulness practice — all of which help me to offer a holistic approach to parenting and wellness.
Education
I graduated with my Master’s degree in Counseling in 2006 and with my PhD in Educational Psychology in 2013, both from Arizona State University.
Since completing university programs, I’ve studied trauma and approaches to healing trauma extensively. I’ve also studied mindfulness, somatic practices, neurological development, wellness, and healing extensively.
Experience
Since 2006, I’ve worked as a therapist with children and families.
I’ve worked in community mental health, pediatric offices, the foster care system; in home and office settings, and now, virtually.
I’ve trained extensively in the areas of Infant and Toddler Mental Health, Parent-Child Relationships and their Impact on Child Development, Trauma, Anxiety, and in how to best help and support parents and caregivers.
In 2013, I began my own private practice. After years of working directly with children, I moved to working exclusively with parents (read why HERE).
Specialization
I specialize in:
Social and emotional issues in adults related to pregnancy and parenting
Social and emotional issues in children, especially throughout the first five years of life
Issues related to adoption, trauma, and attachment
Tantrums, meltdowns, yelling, and ‘not listening’
Anxiety
Generational trauma
Replacing unhealthy ways of interacting with healthy ways of relating to each other in family systems
Approach
I use strengths-based, collaborative, integrative approaches informed largely by the study of interpersonal neurobiology.
I incorporate aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, interpersonal process therapy, and humanistic approaches, as well.
My highest goal in my practice is to help parents process and navigate their parenting journeys in ways that are most helpful, healthful, meaningful, and joyful to them and their children.