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Welcome!
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About me...
I am a white, cisgender, queer, Midwestern-raised, first generation German-American, and highly sensitive ADHDer. I was raised Kansas City, Missouri (native land of Mississippi, Kansa, Osage, and Missouri peoples). I have worked with several non-profit organizations supporting people in foster care/adoption, community programming and wellness, chronic illness, mental health crises, and those with developmental disabilities. I moved to Seattle (Duwamish, Suquamish, Stillaguamish, and Muckleshoot land) in 2014, where I completed my Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Antioch University.
My whole life, the only thing I knew for sure is that I wanted to be of service to others. I began my undergraduate degree as a nursing major and later switched focus to Nonprofit Management, minoring in Psychology. After moving to Seattle I began to realize I wanted to work more directly with people rather than the back-office roles I felt stuck in within the nonprofit sector. I began volunteering at a local crisis line and I found myself loving the work and looking forward to my shift every week. This experience gave me the inspiration needed to look into, and eventually begin, my career as a therapist. Every step since then has felt affirming; I am exactly were I am supposed to be.
Throughout my journey, supportive community and therapy have been imperative to my personal healing and growth. I understand the amount of strength it takes to walk into the unknown with someone and the bravery it takes to decide to put trust in them. I am highly aware of this with my clients and never take for granted the trust I am given. I am honored to be part of your journey.
When I am not working, you can find me outside (photo evidence below)! I find solace, connection, and healing in nature, and it also brings out my playful side. I enjoy playing volleyball, and ping pong, kayaking, hiking, making music with friends and in community groups, and getting into deep existential conversations. My family and I live just north of Seattle in Mountlake Terrace, Washington.
My whole life, the only thing I knew for sure is that I wanted to be of service to others. I began my undergraduate degree as a nursing major and later switched focus to Nonprofit Management, minoring in Psychology. After moving to Seattle I began to realize I wanted to work more directly with people rather than the back-office roles I felt stuck in within the nonprofit sector. I began volunteering at a local crisis line and I found myself loving the work and looking forward to my shift every week. This experience gave me the inspiration needed to look into, and eventually begin, my career as a therapist. Every step since then has felt affirming; I am exactly were I am supposed to be.
Throughout my journey, supportive community and therapy have been imperative to my personal healing and growth. I understand the amount of strength it takes to walk into the unknown with someone and the bravery it takes to decide to put trust in them. I am highly aware of this with my clients and never take for granted the trust I am given. I am honored to be part of your journey.
When I am not working, you can find me outside (photo evidence below)! I find solace, connection, and healing in nature, and it also brings out my playful side. I enjoy playing volleyball, and ping pong, kayaking, hiking, making music with friends and in community groups, and getting into deep existential conversations. My family and I live just north of Seattle in Mountlake Terrace, Washington.
Values & PhilosophyI am a social justice oriented therapist. The purpose of oppressive systems are to purposefully create fragmentation in society, which leads to disconnection in communities and families. As a therapist, I frequently observe the consequences of this through the mental health struggles of individuals, strained relationships, and entire communities with collective trauma. Resilience and healing requires the active resistance of oppressive systems. Strength of community, communication, and connection, are all in direct opposition to the systems that cause suffering and disconnection. It is my mission and passion to contribute to the strengthening of relationships and communities through individual liberation and growth. I acknowledge that the field of Western psychology and counseling is founded and still heavily steeped in oppression through lack of access, lack of resources, and lack of representation of communities and individuals most affected by these systems. I am committed to continuous personal and professional awareness and healing of my own internalized participation in oppressive systems so that I am able to focus on anti-oppressive practices. |
Education & TrainingBachelors Degree in Nonprofit Leadership, minor in Psychology Rockhurst University (Kansas City, MO) Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Antioch University (Seattle, WA) Crisis Clinic Volunteer Phone Worker Training Program (Crisis Connections - Seattle, WA) Complex Trauma (C-PTSD) Training with IFS (Internal Family Systems) (Seattle, WA - Dr. Frank Anderson) Certified Trauma Professional (CTP) Training (Evergreen Certifications) Integrative Somatic Parts Work - Level 1* (Frances D. Booth, LICSW) Investing in myself: Personal counseling, ongoing IFS-focused professional consultation group, continuing education trainings *In Progress |
