About Me
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. My Master of Social Work was obtained from the Columbia University School of Social Work in Advanced Clinical Practice, focusing on Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities. I am licensed for therapy in the State of Washington as an associate Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (SC61607805) working under the supervision of Laurie Ganberg of Fiddlehead Therapy.
I practice from a compassion-focused mindset believing that all people are worthy and capable of change and growth. I am trained in therapeutic modalities such as CBT, mindfulness, life and spiritual coaching, and attachment-based interventions. I am certified as a Grief Informed Professional and am committed to constant growth and learning as a clinician. Currently I am engaged in continuing education and training in Internal Family Systems, Emotional Focused Individual Therapy, and Spiritual and Life Coaching.
Losing my own parents to cancer a year apart during the COVID-19 pandemic has given me a personal understanding of the life-altering impact grief and major trauma have on a life creating a life before and a life after. The greatest gift to me in moving forward toward my own healing has been connecting with fellow grievers of all kinds; those who also personally understand the deep impact of that life-altering experience and the ripples it has on every aspect of your life. It’s the power of these connections that helped me find my way out of the innately isolating experience of a traumatic loss and I continue to be amazed at the impact connection and empathy and understanding has on healing all kinds of our unseen wounds.
My present life experience informs who I am as well. I am mom to my five kids and wife to my husband of 18 years. I proudly wear the badge of a cat mom to our three feline loves, Silvie, Luna and Noodle and am an avid gardener and chicken enthusiast to an undisclosed number of backyard chickens (chicken math, you know?). I love hiking and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest and beyond with my family, audiobooks and listening to my kids play 90’s alternative rock hits loudly in my garage.
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I am firmly committed to practicing the social work values outline in the NASW code of ethics.
These values are:
-Service
-Social Justice
-Dignity and Worth of The Person
-Importance of Human Relationships
-Integrity
-Competence
I believe in the work of anti-racism and anti-oppression and justice and inclusion for all including communities identifying as disabled, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, non-citizens and the neurodiverse.I affirm the value and inherent worth of all people and seek to educate myself on the unique needs, viewpoints and strengths of vulnerable and marginalized communities.
As a white, heterosexual, cis-woman I acknowledge my place of privilege and am committed to using that privilege to challenge systems of oppression and amplify marginalized voices and perspectives. -
Brigham Young University, 2002
Provo, Utah
Bachelor of Science in Social WorkColumbia University School of Social Work, 2003
New York City, New York
Masters in Social Work
Advanced Clinical Practice in Health, Mental Health and Disability -
Washington State Division of Child, Youth and Family Services
Child Protective Services
Investigator
Seattle, WA
Kings County District Attorney’s Office
Counseling Services Unit
Counselor and Victim Advocate
Brooklyn, NYYAI Gramercy Preschool
Social Work Intern
New York, NYThe Heritage School
Unit Staff
Provo, UTUtah Division of Child and Family
Child Protective Services
Social Work Intern -
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker Associate (LSWAIC)
Washington State #SC61607805Certified Grief Informed Professional
Evergreen Certifications #350197 -
In my practice I use modalities such as:
Parts work such as Internal Family Systems and Psychology of Self
Mindfulness Based Cognitive behavioral therapy (MCBT)
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness
Narrative Therapy
Attachment theory based interventions
Spiritual Coaching
Life Coaching
I approach all work with a trauma informed and shame informed lens.
I am committed to constant growth and learning as a clinician and am currently engaged in continuing education and training in:
Internal Family Systems
EMDR
Emotional Focused Individual Therapy
Spiritual and Life Coaching training
Somatic Therapy and Polyvagal Theory
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National Association of Social Workers