My Background

A therapist’s primary tool is themselves. For this reason, it is impossible for a therapist’s work to not be deeply rooted in who they are as a person. Each of my life experiences have shaped me in important and unique ways and I am honored to have the opportunity to introduce myself to you.

I joined the military at the age of 17 right out of high school and served one term in the U.S. Air Force. I majored in Psychology at Oakland University in Michigan and completed my Master’s degree and Ph.D. at Purdue University in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. My internship was in The Center for Family Intervention Science at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and I completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at The University of Michigan in the Center for Human Growth and Development. A sizable portion of my graduate and postdoctoral research was oriented around the topic of emotion regulation and attachment theory in relationships.

Each of these formative experiences shaped me into a therapist that views the world from an attachment-based lens and a systems perspective. This means that I see individuals within the context of their relationship with themselves, as well as their relationships with others and with the world around them. I view each of these as possible intervention points for uncovering pathways to growth, healing, and transformation.

On more than one occasion on my journey as a therapist (and more importantly as a human being), I reached a point when I felt compelled to augment my work with additional training. These moments of insight occurred directly after experiencing tremendous loss. I emerged from each of these painful chapters with a growing understanding that sometimes our deepest healing occurs when we learn to cultivate a deeply attuned, compassionate, and responsive relationship with our nervous system.

Bridging off this insight, I decided to become trained as a yoga instructor, and later obtained certification as a breathwork facilitator. In order to round out and augment these, I also received a certification in Somatic Attachment Therapy. Drawing on each of these tools, I am now enable to weave a more holistic perspective into my work, bringing a somatic and mindfulness-based layer of healing to the table for clients who are interested. I received training as a certified coach along the way as well. Be sure to check out the coaching services tab if this is something you’re interested in!

I know the road isn’t always easy. Sometimes life throws curveballs and knocks the breath right out of you. This is true for each and every one of us. It is nothing short of heroic bravery to keep showing up fully in all of our vulnerable authenticity, ready to begin again. Each and every day I am struck by what a tremendous privilege it is to walk alongside my clients as they navigate this process in their individual lives and in their relationships!