I decided to become a therapist and work with children and teens because when I was growing up I used art to process what I was going through at any given time both positive and negative. When I discovered that art therapy was a newer approach to mental health and I could go to school for it, I knew it was my path. I knew I wanted to teach others how to process difficult things through art, writing, play and any medium that is comfortable. I love the brain and how our bodies and environment impact how our behaviors, thoughts and emotions are expressed.

I work best with youth ages 3 to 18. I have experience working with children and teens with PTSD, Complex Trauma, ADHD, Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Major Depressive Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, suicidality/suicidal ideation, LGBTQ+, foster care and any folk that are dedicated to making positive changes in their life.

All of them! I find every new person that I meet to be a journey and a challenge and an opportunity for growth.

I wish that all clients knew that success, confidence and happiness are things that they get to claim for themselves without the pressure from society, family or peers.

I chose to practice at Thriveworks as I believe that as a clinician it is my responsibility to continue to grow every day in order to best serve my clients. Thriveworks offers the clinical support, growth and training that I value as a crucial piece of my professional growth.

Watching a human being of any age grow inspires me. Although it takes time, mistakes and challenges; being able to watch tiny successes inspires me to do the work that I do.

They can expect to develop coping skills and strategies. Establishing safety plans and utilizing natural supports. The initial session / intake will be completed with the patient’s parent before the initial session with the patient.

Primarily during an initial session I find it crucial to learn about why my client is coming to therapy, what are their presenting symptoms, how long this has been occurring for and what has been done to treat it. Additionally, it's important for us to lay the groundwork for our therapeutic relationship so therefore we will be focusing on getting to know each other.

My clients should know that I am direct and have clear boundaries while also being flexible, fun and creative.

Although it's challenging to find free time while balancing work and life responsibilities, I make sure to take time to engage in self-care on a daily basis. Some of these self-care hobbies include: drawing, playing guitar, spending time with my friends/family, walking with my dog, cooking new recipes and playing video games.

My passion for all the things I do in life I believe defines many qualities that make me who I am - I meet each day ready to put my best food forward and make every day a great day whether it be smooth or challenging.