I am a licensed clinical psychotherapist in both Washington State and Illinois, with vast therapeutic experiences. My journey started in Canada, where I completed a Bachelors of Human Ecology with a family counseling major at Mount Saint Vincent University. While attending school, and trying to finance my education, I began working in group homes and shelters for trauma impacted children and youth having suffered unimaginable sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. After graduating and at a relatively young age for the time, I ventured off to work in Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. While living in South East Asia, I had the pleasure of providing services for runaway and abused youth, families in crisis, support and exit routes for woman involved in prostitution, and the homeless population. On my time off, I started to travel around the world, exploring over 39 countries with a backpack. For multiple years, I immersed myself into foreign countries adapting to new customs and traditions, both challenging and rewarding. Back then, working and living abroad was not common, so I found myself sometimes to be the only foreigner in the entire community. The power of the profound relationships, stories, struggles, and survival as a community greatly impacted both my personal and professional development. To be completely in the moment, in strange lands, relating at almost a visceral level to others, without any common language, influenced my desire to expand my spirit and increase my insight. My journey began to unfold as I learned, opening myself to more experiences, and exploring the healing methods around the world. Nineteen years later I opened private practice, which brings us back into the present moment.
After such exploration, I moved to the States, and completed my Masters of Clinical Mental Health at DePaul University, located in Chicago. I wanted to provide services for a population in which the community was underserved. I felt that everyone deserved the opportunity to heal, and receive support in their life, so I started working at Mt. Sinai Psychiatric and Behavioral Adult Outpatient, located in one of the most violent neighborhoods in Chicago. As a clinical psychotherapist, I conducted clinical mental health assessments, diagnosing, and implemented individualized treatment plans. I also provided individual, couple, and group therapy for a wide range of mental health conditions. I continued to expand my skills and knowledge of psychotherapeutic interventions and therapeutic relationships.
My personal and professional experiences provided the pathway to further develop my own clinical approach. The growth of my psychotherapeutic skills continued to allow me the great privilege and opportunity to intervene within many different mental health settings including but not limited to: psychiatric adult outpatient settings; community mental health, higher education student populations; and psychotherapy at the largest single site jail in America, the Sheriff’s office of mental health and the Sheriff’s clinic at Cook County Jail.
To this day, I continue to invest in my own process of self-discovery and growth, while also continually undertaking advanced trainings to deepen my understanding of psychotherapy, trauma, the soul, and spirituality. My passion for empathizing with and helping others runs deep and began 20 years ago. It’s with great appreciation that I welcome you to join with me, on your unique healing journey.
Please feel free to contact me to explore if I’m the right fit for you. I look forward to hearing from you, and have a great rest of your day.