I LOVE my job!  I believe my desire to walk alongside others grew from living in Haiti for four of my elementary school years.

In Haiti, I had to amazing opportunity to witness the compassion and true relationship as the keys to healing. 

 

In college, I graduated in 1995 from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and then worked for the State of Kansas and Children’s Mercy Hospital.  I investigated child abuse and neglect and worked with families hurting from addictions to drugs and alcohol.  Together, the families and I worked as a team through intensive, in-home training to keep their

families intact and stable. 

 

Later, I wrote the children’s curriculum for my church helping children understand and cope with life's challenges.  In 2014 I received my Master of Arts Degree in Counseling at MidAmerica University in Olathe, Kansas.  I specialized in Marriage and Family Counseling and was certified in Play Therapy as through children's natural play, they express their thoughts and feelings.

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Opening my private practice in Lynden, WA was one of the highlights of my life.  I truly feel honored walking with children, individuals, and families through their life journeys.  While in Washington I also had the privileged to contract with Blaine School District to provide therapy to their teens who scored high on ACEs, Adverse Childhood Experiences.  Although we can't control some of our life experiences, we can learn to understand the powerful strength within ourselves to overcome.

 

My experience includes working with all ages and stages of life including adoption and attachment issues, divorce and step-parenting relationships, grief and loss, depression and anxiety, anger, family conflict, trauma, school issues, domestic violence, and self-harming behavior.  I also traveled to Uganda to present at a conference on trauma within villages impacted by the horrors of the LRA. In addition to being a private practice practitioner, I teach master-level classes and workshops, supervise interns, and supervise post-grad therapists. 

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Therapy modalities and treatment approaches that I use and have been trained in include client-centered, experiential, cognitive behavioral, attachment, EMDR (Level II), Family Systems, Theraplay (Level II), and Certified in Play Therapy.  EMDR Therapy is useful for trauma and anxiety concerns.  I have had the privilege of training with Ana Gomez to become an EMDR Child Specialist.   Theraplay is an attachment Therapy that bonds parents together with their children and increases trust and joy in relationships. Attachment Therapy and Family Systems are the lenses to view relationships and individual concerns.  

 

Life is a Journey of various paths; some paths cause celebrations, and other paths can take your breath away.  

I am honored to join you on your journey, your own unique journey of purpose.  Let's dance in the rain.