About Me
As a licensed mental health therapist in Seattle, I bring over 14 years of experience, with 13 of those years specifically supporting youth and families in the community mental health setting. I specialize in working with tweens, teens, young adults, and caregivers. I support youth experiencing anxiety, self-esteem and body image challenges, interpersonal/peer relationship challenges, depression, self-harming behaviors and suicidal ideation, and substance abuse. I also support parents who are struggling to care for these youth, who may be worried about their child, challenged by behavioral and communication struggles, or who want support staying regulated and attuned so they can be the parent they want to be.
My approach is rooted in holistic wellness, with a particular emphasis on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This evidence-based approach empowers youth and caregivers to develop skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance. I am intensively trained in DBT and provided the therapy individually and in groups for 9 years. You can learn more about DBT here. I am also IFS informed and loved to integrate the two, helping clients build effective skills while increasing self understanding and nurturing wounded and burdened parts.
I intentionally create space to be affirming of racial, gender, sexual, neurodivergent, and intersectional identities and I recognize the uniqueness that each individual brings to the therapeutic relationship. I acknowledge that my clients know themselves best, emphasizing and reinforcing existing strengths while working collaboratively to uncover and develop new ones.
I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. I have my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Western Washington University. I attended Seattle University and received my Master’s in Community Counseling in 2010. Prior to my Master’s, I worked as a Residential Counselor and later provided therapy and clinical supervision in community mental health for 13 years. My path to adulthood was not linear, with stumbles along the way. I think this is what led me to wanting to work with kids and teens and families.
Outside of being a therapist, I spend my time with my family, staying busy parenting 3 of my own, and enjoying the PNW.