With an empathic and warm demeanor and a focus on relationships, I combine the development of personal connection and personal growth. I consistently look for creative ways to help people identify their strengths and to look for opportunities to heal and develop.
I use a caring and gentle approach to support individuals and their families with the often overwhelming complexity of life. Therefore, I will often include family members in therapy sessions and I’m always looking for opportunities to expand the supportive network of my clients.
I strongly believe in looking at a person as a whole and how all parts of their life affect who they are and how they are able to show up. We are all most successful when we are able to see and understand that everything we do either connects us with others or leaves us feeling disconnected.
I’ve been working as an individual, couples & family therapist or social worker since 2006. I received my master’s degree in applied behavioral science with a focus on systems counseling from The Leadership Institute of Seattle at Bastyr University. I hold a bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon. I’ve complete Level 1 Couples Clinical Training in the Gottman Method as well as Level 1 Relational Life Therapy with Terry Real.
I come from a blended family, with full, half and stepsiblings. I have lost a parent and come through a challenging divorce stronger and more able to connect to others with similar challenges. I am empathic to the complex emotions and binds of being a sensitive person in relationships with friends, colleagues and family members who don’t always value those traits. As Hemingway said, “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”
