Frequently Asked Questions

3 years!

I have a Masters in Counseling from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology as well as both a JD and LLM from St. Mary’s University. Washington License #: LH 61422231 CCTPII Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level II Practicing since: 2020

I have attained the following certifications: CCTPII Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Integrated Somatic Parts Work with Fran Booth completed September 2023 TIST Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment ongoing certification Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Level One Completed September 23 and ongoing Hakomi Method Informed – August 2023 CSTIP Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional training ongoing complete September 2023. EMDR certification in 2024

My therapeutic expertise is in working with patients who are working through depression and anxiety, chronic fatigue and pain, relationship issues (communication and boundaries), trauma and complex trauma resilience, religious trauma, and identity formation.

My primary approaches to therapy include internal family systems, somatic parts work, Ttauma informed stabilization treatment, somatic experiencing (Level 1), existential therapy.

My specialties include: Attachment repair, C-PTSD and its effects, children of emotionally immature parents, religious trauma repair, and divorce and relationship struggles.

Living in a stressful home environment growing up, I spent a lot of time doing the thing that I received praise for–studying and achieving success in school. My undergraduate degree was in Existential Psychology and I loved learning about the human mind, philosophy, and the question of meaning. As life became more complicated, I turned to law as a career, obtaining my J.D. and Ll.M. in International Studies. Fast forward through raising kids, with depression and anxiety, and a marriage ending; I was at the end of my beginning at the age of 45. Looking for meaning, motivation and passion, I moved to Seattle Washington to attend the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. I have been on my own healing journey since then and bring that experience and education into my work with clients asking similar questions today. Suffering breeds empathy. And throughout my life, I have come to know one of my greatest strengths is my ability to listen, to truly and completely listen, without judgment or expectation. After all, that's what I needed when I have seen a therapist.

I believe that all human beings are in search of meaning and authenticity for their lives. We may experience events that create internal and external confusion and stuckness. We find ourselves at a crossroads when we seek therapy. I work to slow down the process so that we can become mindfully aware of the experiences, memories, feelings, and thoughts that have become overwhelming and unworkable. The concept of mindfulness and acceptance is a long term goal but with the existence of trauma there may be several steps along the road to reworking our story. As human beings, we are each a system of beliefs, thoughts, memories, impulses and emotions that have helped us to cope with the events that have happened in our lives. We may have learned from these experiences, for example, that it is better not to trust others; to be self-sufficient. Today, you may be experiencing loneliness and isolation. The more trauma in our life, the more psychological roadblocks to experiencing the life we want. Everyone is different. No one size fits all. So much of our angst and pain comes from judgments, labels, expectations, shame, guilt, and so on. I help people to work through that and come to accept who they are, that they already are, and always have been, enough. I am very patient and easy-going in therapy. At the same time, I will challenge clients gently, but challenge them nonetheless as change, by definition, requires getting out of our comfort zones. I also know that it is not easy, so small steps are important. Although we may try to figure our lives out intellectually, what is happening internally is our greatest source of information. What is happening for you internally? Why are you chronically experiencing back pain or other inflammatory responses? Why did you emotionally react in a way that you wish you hadn’t? Many of us did not grow up learning how to listen to our physical cues & emotions. Instead of listening to this communication, we deny and repress. When trauma, feeling memories and emotions are ignored they become stuck in the body. Together we will titrate slowly as we build internal and external safety toward the goal of experiencing ease and comfort in our own bodies.

I worked as a Clinical Therapist at Fairfax Behavioral Hospital in Kirkland Washington from June of 2020 to June 2022. In the group therapy context, I developed and taught classes on a variety of topics related to mental wellness and recovery. In the Adult Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) I worked with adults 18-78, who were in distress for a variety of reasons. In the Intensive Outpatient Program, I taught Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills including Mindfulness, Emotional Regulation, Distress Tolerance and Interpersonal Relationships.

After becoming aware of my own trauma, and working to heal, there were many roadblocks and difficulties. After ten years of my own work including a Masters in Counseling, I chose to dedicate the next phase of life on walking with those on their own path.