My Story….
My journey into the mental health realm started nearly 30 years ago when my oldest was a toddler. Though I did not recognize the extent of my childhood trauma at the time, I did know that I was going to stop the cycle of abuse with my children. But I had an incredibly spirited two-year-old and I had no idea how to meet his unique needs. So I looked to counseling to learn how to parent in a natural, gentle manner.
About the same time I was finishing my undergraduate degree and found an undergrad program in counseling and psychology that worked with my schedule as a mom. With a newly diagnosed autistic child, I quickly focused most of my time learning about neurodivergence and how to support my son through advocacy, academic accommodations, and essential life skills. I continue to work with autistic individuals and their families to this day as this lived experience has made the work very intuitive to me. And my son? He went from being a nonspeaking preschooler with significant support needs to a 33-year-old commercial pilot and flight instructor.
Becoming an expert in autism and ADHD was just the tip of the iceberg. I also served as a volunteer facilitator for Families for Conscious Living, supporting parents in taking a natural approach to family life. This led to courses in nutrition, botanical medicine, and alternative modalities all while deepening my understanding of responsive parenting. As a busy mom of three and a business owner, I also began a meditation practice that I have continued for nearly two decades and now teach to others.
After two years in medical school, I faced my own health crisis with a diagnosis with post-treatment Lyme disease and Babesiosis. This period taught me the profound mind-body connection, specifically the role that extraordinary stress, like that of medical school, plays in our physical health. This led me to return to my foundations in counselling and psychology at the graduate level.
With my graduate education, I’ve continued to explore the intersection of health, wellness, and mental health. I have also spent the last three decades uncovering my own trauma, understood through the lens of intergenerational patterns.
Whether you want to explore lifestyle habits, mental health patterns, or a combination of both, I’m here to help you break unhealthy cycles and move toward healing.