I believe that life is both beautiful and incredibly difficult, and that having the right kind of support can make us feel less overwhelmed and a lot more capable. My goal as a therapist is threefold: to help people feel seen, to help people rediscover their capacity for healing and growth, and to support people in the creation of a toolkit that helps them build a more balanced, satisfying, and meaningful life.
I am a licensed clinical social worker with over 25 years of experience working in social services agencies and veterinary settings. I began my career in domestic violence and sexual assault intervention programs before spending a handful of years in corrections, both behind the scenes and with young offenders. Most recently, I spent the past 15 years working in veterinary social work, focusing on human-animal relationships, animal loss, and the unique stressors facing those working in animal care fields.
I have a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, as well as specialty training in cognitive behavioral therapy, animal-assisted therapy, grief counseling, mindfulness, and stress management/resilience (the latter of which was completed at the Mayo Clinic). My special interests include helping people work through grief, loss, and life transitions; chronic stress, burnout and compassion fatigue; depression and mood dysregulation; relationship difficulties; and human-animal relationships. My clients describe me as warm, pragmatic, and results-oriented. I am also a Reiki Master who believes in ‘clearing the path’ for the mind/body/spirit’s innate capacity to heal.