is to help all of my clients uncover/rediscover their intrinsic potential and to increase their understanding of who they are as people.
easy to talk to, nonjudgemental, and a safe space to open up fully.
would be described as engaging, funny, and a great listener.
being able to create a safe space for all my clients where they feel like they can communicate openly and honestly, without fear of judgement.
I think that while medication can be a great option for some people, it is not the only option for everyone. I believe with more research coming out there will be new alternatives to pharmacological medications and I believe in the self-determination of clients to be able to make the decision that is best for them.
I believe so strongly in the uniqueness of every individual I see that I do not believe in a one intervention fits all model. I like to blend different approaches together and I also like to have the client lead where they would like to go. I always tell my clients that if one’s skills or one suggestion doesn’t work or they don’t like it, there are always a lot more we can try together.
I absolutely LOVE working with youth/adolescents. I think that they are at a really important time in their life when they need to realize the incredible potential they have and need to have trusted adults in their life that are not going to judge them.
I have had my own mental health journey from a young age. I will use self-disclosure as appropriate to talk about my past experiences to help normalize experiences for clients. Having had my own mental health journey, I have found that my clients appreciate the honesty and openness with which I speak and I have been told it is helpful in making clients feel more comfortable and safe.
Growing up, I struggled with anxiety, panic disorder, and depression but had no idea what it was called at the time and had no idea how to deal with it. It wasn’t until I was a young adult that I even knew that therapy existed. It is because of this that I got into this work. I don’t want anyone else to feel like there is something wrong with them that can’t be explained. I want everyone to be able to get the coping skills and the empowerment they deserve and need. I want to be the person that helps people understand themselves and learn to love themselves
I believe so strongly in holding space and validating those experiences. I believe that it makes sense to name the oppression and name the system doing it. I think it is important to acknowledge the history that our nation has had and how that greatly impacts several populations. It is also important to acknowledge the current political climate that is greatly impacting certain populations as well. As a white, cisgendered woman I acknowledge my role in the system and do my best to emphasize that I cannot understand their experiences but I can walk alongside them through them and validate the oppression that is happening. I think the most important thing is to not ignore the issues of systemic oppression and pretend that it doesn’t exist.
I was homeschooled until 8th grade, which gives me a unique perspective into life, academia, and social situations.
My toy poodle Bella is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I know that no matter, what she is there with me through every bad day and good day. Walking her, feeding her, playing with her, etc helps to keep me grounded.
Authenticity, Openness, Honesty, and Mutual Respect.
I grew up in a home that did not believe in mental health, and truthfully still barely believes in it. I always thought that something was wrong with me and at one point didn’t even think I deserved to be a therapist because of it. It wasn’t until I worked at a school in Center, CO that I realized my experiences with life, with mental health, with family, actually set me apart from other therapists and helped people relate to me in an easier, more authentic way. It was at that school and because of that school that I decided to go to school to become a social worker and realized my worth as a therapist. I had always wished for someone to help me feel understood and that is something I hope I make all of my clients feel. I believe strongly in normalizing, validating, and providing self-disclosure when/if it benefits the client.
I have always been somewhat of a perfectionist as well and a huge nerd and lover of education which is why I believe continued education is incredibly important in this field. I do not pretend to know everything about every modality there is, but I do try to learn as much as I can for my clients’ benefit. I believe in attending trainings and webinars to further my expertise as a therapist and to become more knowledgeable about the field in general. There are always new and emerging ideas, modalities, and research and it is my duty, as a social worker, to stay as up to date on them as I can.
For the majority of my career, I have worked in a school or education setting. I have worked primarily with middle school and high school age students in both therapeutic settings as well as teaching settings. I have an advanced understanding of the way schools work, especially schools in a more rural area. Within schools, it is important to note that I would see a diverse set of clients. A lot of my clients identified as part of the LGBTQ+IA community. I have experience working with students on motivation, anxiety (general, panic attacks, academic, and social), relationships, family problems, identity development, and trauma.
Within that, I have worked in small, rural towns, where most of the population spoke English as a second language and were part of the migrant or Latinx community. Although I do not speak Spanish, I believe that my understanding of systemic oppression, commitment to being culturally humble/competent, and overall welcoming and empathetic approach has allowed me the honor of working with this population extensively.
Bachelor of Arts – Social Relations and Policy – Michigan State University – 2015-2018
Master of Social Work – University of Denver – 2021-2023
As for my continued education, I want to gain more knowledge and specialization in trauma-focused modalities and healing. I think that there is a strong connection between trauma and the body, which is why I want to focus a lot of my continued education on the mind-body connection and how to let go of/release some of the stored trauma that is held in our bodies. Although I do not have any formal expertise or trainings in this matter yet, it is something that I am excited to learn more about and start to incorporate into my practice.
The only commitment I expect from my clients is that they show up, are willing to engage/participate, and are as honest and authentic as they can be.
It depends. It depends on the client, the modality, and whether or not I think that homework/exercises would be beneficial for the client. Typically, I do not like to force anyone to do anything, and the way I word it is that I will “encourage” them to try certain things throughout the week. If they come back next week and they haven’t, it is not a big deal.
My therapy sessions tend to be more open-ended since I believe the sessions should be client-led. If I come in with some kind of structure but the client has something else they would rather do, I would rather be flexible and switch to whatever the client may need in the moment. If the client prefers more structure in the session, however, I am happy to adapt to that as well.
