I was born and raised in Florida and transplanted to Alaska nearly a decade ago with my husband. It wasn’t until I moved to Alaska that I realized how much I love summertime. I look forward to spending my summers in the sunshine with my husband, our daughter, and our dog. I enjoy walks and easy hikes with my family and enjoying beauty that is Alaska. In the winter months I will be snuggled up with a warm mug of tea and a few balls of yarn for crochet. I enjoy yoga and pilates and am returning to a journey of wellness myself.
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida and a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from NOVA Southeastern University. I have 10 years of experience in the community mental health setting, with most of those years spent within the Tribal Health System working with Alaska Native and American Indian youth and families as part of an integrated healthcare team in a Pediatric Outpatient Clinic.
I am a passionate advocate for all youth. I enjoy supporting youth and helping their parents become the parents that they always hoped they would be. As a parent myself, I understand the struggle. Parenting doesn’t come with a manual. Even if it did, some days don’t go according to plan. I have read many parenting books and will share with you the tools and books that I have found to be most helpful. My specialty is counseling with youth, parents, and families. I would consider myself an attachment-focused and trauma-informed therapist and seek to support achieving more balance and connection with young clients and their families.
I have made it my mission to learn skills to assist youth to connect to and to trust their authentic selves. I consider myself a lifetime learner, and routinely seek out training to share new skills and techniques with my clients. I have advanced training in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (Attachment, Regulation and Competency Framework), Family Wellness, Play Therapy (Adlerian Play Therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy, Theraplay), Trauma (Brainspotting, Trauma Informed Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy), as well as Tic Management (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics [CBIT]).
I understand that starting therapy can be scary and challenging. I like to see myself as “Tour Guide Barbie,” I’m with you on the journey you have identified, sharing insights and tools along the way. I will be authentic, curious and have a genuine concern for how you are doing. I believe humor and play belong in therapy, and that the therapy room should feel like a safe space for people of all races, genders, identities, and sexual orientations.
It would be my honor to consult with you to see if I am a good match for you and your family. You are also welcome to email or call me with any questions you may have.