From a young age, I knew I wanted to help others. After exploring various careers, I initially pursued a career as a middle school educator.  For sixteen years, I taught adolescents who simply did not do well naturally in school - either academically or socially.  Spending  that time with them, I learned more than I taught.  I learned what people really need is simply the permission to be who they are, not  be changed into something or someone else.  I learned the resiliency of the human spirit and the diversity of the human being.  My students taught me to longer be satisfied with simply surviving but to rather for something more robust - thriving into flourishing.  Collectively we helped each other.  This laid the groundwork for my next career; mental health therapist and wellness counselor.

I hold a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. My training includes a variety of evidence based approaches to advance recovery from trauma while identifying and nurturing health and well-being.  This approach has proven effectiveness for sustained well-being. I have experience supporting people as they recover from  physical, sexual, emotional and spiritual abuse.  Additionally, I have experience working with those individuals who have chosen coping skills in response to trauma  that have resulted in various addictions (substances, food, relationship, work, etc.).

​I have had the privilege to co-exist with people from other cultures in their land.  The communal belief they held infected me with the communal understanding of existing together.  A very wise tribal leader , Chief Mutato, from Botswana taught me that  when one person in a community hurts the entire community suffers and when one person recovers that healing increases the well being of the entire community.  It is precisely this belief that informs the wellness model I choose to inform the work my clients and I do together.