About me

I have ten years of experience working in various roles in childhood mental health. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Colorado College in 2013, I began my career as a behavior specialist at a residential care facility called Ryther Child Center. The children ages 5-14 had severe mental health and behavioral issues due to complex trauma experienced early in life. Caring for and building trust with these children who had learned to fear caregivers taught me the importance of patience, curiosity, and play. I fell in love with this work and took on more and more responsibility in this role at Ryther. Eventually, I became the Residential Program Supervisor of a cottage of 12 children and directly supervised over 20 behavior specialists.

Over the six years I worked with this population, I became interested in learning about the prevention of childhood mental health issues. I pursued a Masters in Child and Adolescent Psychology from the University of Washington. I completed my practicum at Seattle Children's Autism Center, where I implemented evidence-based treatments with parents of children with Autism and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. After graduating in 2020, I took a position at Childhaven as an Infant and Early Childhood Therapist, and I now work in the same role at the Center for Human Services in Lynnwood. I found my passion lies in working with parents and their young children to mitigate intergenerational, early childhood, and perinatal trauma and treat the mental health issues these experiences often create. 

As a straight, cis, white, and able-bodied provider, I recognize the privilege I hold in navigating life in a society that more easily accepts me as I am. Due to inequities inherent in our society, finding providers that hold the same minority identies of potential clients is unfortunately difficult. I practice cultural humility, celebrate diversity, and seek supervision, consultation, and other opportunities to grow and learn in order to best support individuals and families who have disabilities, identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and/or hold other marginalized identies. I also personally identify as fat, and practice the Health at Every Size approach when supporting my clients.