What I Do
As a therapist, my approach starts from a place of wondering and respect: I wonder what has happened to you, not what is wrong with you, and I respect that you have tried your best but want help to do better. I also recognize that the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome. This might include feeling perplexed at how to help your child when it seems their tantrums are too often and too intense, or it could be a child with separation anxiety that starts with the introduction of preschool but doesn’t lessen even after the adjustment period is over. Often, there are early signs that your child’s nervous system may feel over or underwhelmed, and that you might need more members on your child’s team. My hope is that we listen and heed these messages.
Over 19 years of being a helping professional, I have had the honor of walking alongside many folks and in many settings: integrated Dual Disorders Treatment of mental illness and chemical dependency, assessment and brief therapy to folks who are incarcerated, and Integrated Behavioral Healthcare in CentraCare’s Pediatrics Clinic and Child Advocacy Center. As varied as these settings and needs may seem, there was always a common thread: most of the folks I supported have experienced complex trauma and needed a person-centered, attachment-focused perspective to best understand and meet their needs. Along this journey, I have been trained in Theraplay®, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI), Diagnostic Classification 0-5 (DC 0-5), Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment (IDDT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Wellness Management and Recovery (WMR). In the near future, I will be trained in Child Parent Psychotherapy and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I view myself as a generalist with a passion for supporting families and patients ages zero through childhood.
Why I Love My Work
I think I have one of the best jobs around: not only do I get to play, I get to see the amazing growth that a little support can provide to a loving and engaged family. I am humbled each and every day by my clients’ courage, strength, and perseverance. My job is to reflect this back and provide targeted psychoeducation and psychotherapy, along with an ample supply of cheerleading. You can do hard things!
Getting to Know Me
I have lived in several countries, big cities and diverse communities, but my heart is where my family is, so I wandered back to Minnesota. I now have my own little family, which includes two other humans, a very little dog and two big, fluffy cats. I love being outside, whether biking, hiking, gardening, or pickle balling, but I also enjoy sewing, reading or playing games indoors. I love to do any and all of these activities with the ones I love—family and friends alike.
MyChart