About Me
After 17 years as a therapist, I'm still deeply moved by the honesty people bring into the therapy room - especially when life has stripped things down to what actually matters.
Many of the people I work with are navigating parts of life that don't fit into neat categories: the emotional aftermath of a diagnosis, the grief that hides under responsibility, the quiet unraveling that happens when things look fine on the outside but aren't. I sit with people in those moments - not with pressure or platitudes, but with steadiness, warmth, and respect for the story they're still trying to make sense of.
My focus on cancer-related work isn't just professional - it's also personal. I've seen firsthand how a diagnosis reshapes a life, and how hard it can be to find solid ground again. That perspective, combined with years of experience supporting patients and families, deeply informs how I show up in the therapy room.
While my clinical training shapes how I work, my perspective is also shaped by life outside the therapy room. I've been married for many years and have raised five children - including triplets - so I understand what it means to be stretched in every direction, to care deeply for others while trying to stay connected to yourself. That lived experience informs how I hold space for the many roles my clients are carrying, often all at once.
I believe in resilience - not the kind that pushes through at any cost, but the kind that regroups, redefines, and reclaims. I make room for grief, fear, and anger, but I also hold tight to each person's vision of what could be possible. Even in the midst of what's hard, we can still move toward a life that feels honest, grounded, and connected to what matters most.
Credentials
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor - Washington State (LH 60203337)
- MS in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy - California State University, Northridge
- BA in Psychology - University of California Los Angeles
- Psychosocial Oncology Knowledge and Skills Certificate - American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS)
Professional Memberships
- AMHCA (American Mental Health Counselors Association)
- WMHCA (Washington Mental Health Counselors Association)
- APOS (American Psychosocial Oncology Society) (membership pending)