Practice
I currently work with adults and couples experiencing attachment injuries, the effects of trauma, and disconnection from the self/others.
My practice is rooted in attachment science, interpersonal neurobiology, and human development. I utilize humanistic, attachment-based, emotionally-focused, systemic, experiential, and trauma-informed modalities.
In sessions, this often means we will explore emotion and the way it sits in the body, understand patterns in your relationships, and utilize experiential activities that engage the parts of the self/experience that want to be deeply heard. Ultimately, your voice, strengths, and needs will determine the route we take. The atmosphere of my practice is laid-back, dynamic, gentle, candid, and playful - balanced with vulnerability and intentionality.
Philosophy
I view mental health symptoms within the context of prolonged disconnection from the self and others. When prolonged disconnection, suffering, and trauma occur, mental health symptoms like anxiety, depression, and those related to PTSD can arise. Those I work with often experience these symptoms, as well as shame, diminished self-worth, anger, fear, issues within relationships, etc.
It is my belief that change happens in the present, and within the context of a safe, accessible, reliable, and engaged relationship. My role in this experience is as a process consultant, supporting you - the expert of your own life - to find healing and wellness that fits for you.
I believe that every human has infinite worth. I believe we all have core needs of love, belonging, safety, and connection; these needs are necessary to survive and thrive, and they are fundamental to the human experience.
Experience
I graduated from Gonzaga University in 2016 with a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling. My practice began at the Spokane Veterans Outreach Center in Spokane, WA where I had the privilege of providing counseling services to combat veterans and their families. I was then hired as a therapist in the Wraparound Intensive Services (WISe) program at Frontier Behavioral Health. As a part of a clinical team, I provided individual and family therapy, crisis intervention, and resource coordination for youth and their families experiencing complex mental health needs. After moving to Portland in 2017, I continued as a WISe therapist at Catholic Community Services (CCS) and eventually became a clinical supervisor for the program. While at CCS, I also supported the Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention (YMCI) and Crisis Stabilization teams that dispatch, triage, and respond to the Clark County Crisis Line.
I started the first iteration of my private practice in 2018, where I worked part-time until leaving the WISe program in 2021. Since shifting into full-time private practice, my focus is largely on experiential work with couples and adult individuals. I feel energized by the dynamic and profound moments of connection that clients experience, both with their partners and within themselves. It truly feels like a privilege to work in collaboration with clients as they explore trauma and attachment healing.
I am equally as passionate about empowering and supporting other professionals within the mental health field. I supervise associate counselors working towards full licensure in Washington state. I’m also an instructor on the training team at Growth Central Training, a professional education and certification organization based in New York City. We provide crisis intervention and anger management training for crisis response providers, mental health therapists, and first responders.
In a past life, I was a high school teacher, soccer coach, and sales "expert" at a cherry stand in Pike Place Market.
Personal Life
I grew up in Seattle, WA as the oldest of five kids. I could usually be found in the local neighborhoods with my friends. Soccer was a big part of my life, as was tinkering in the garage with my dad. I moved to Spokane to attend college and was a secondary education teacher, a staff member at the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, and a Court Appointed Special Advocate before finally graduating with a degree in mental health counseling. I moved to Portland in 2017, and spent 7 years falling in love with that city. In an effort to live closer to family, my husband and I moved back to Seattle in 2024.
I spend much of my time with my husband, our dog (Boots) and our cat (Kitty), as well as our family and friends. I always enjoy cheering on the Portland Thorns and Timbers - a great way to keep soccer in my life with (usually) less risk of a knee injury. A fair warning to any ECS clients … I may show up to sessions in Portland gear.
It's common to find me in my kitchen trying new recipes and wine pairings. I’m usually excited about the dishes I create, aside from one infamous shrimp and broccoli dish, which hailed a scathing review from an unnamed individual - "this is the worst food ever put in front of me." I won't be quitting my day job.
Continued Training
-
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Beyond Betrayals, 2025
-
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Certification - Couples, Individuals, Families, 2024
-
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) Essentials, 2024
-
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Highly Escalated Couples, 2024
-
Clinical Use of the Adult Attachment Interview, 2024
-
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) - Level 2, 2024
-
Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist III, 2023
-
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Core Skills, 2022 - 2023
-
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Externship, 2022
-
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) - Level 1, 2021
-
Certified Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional, 2021
-
Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist II, 2020
-
Circle of Security® Core Sensitivities, 2018
-
Circle of Security® Parent Educator, 2017
-
CBT+ Certification, 2017
-
Motivational Interviewing, 2016
License Information
LMHC: LH60924495 (Washington)