About Me
Licensure
Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Washington (First Issue Date: 2015), License #: LH 60598873
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), South Carolina (First Issue Date: 2021), License #: 8006
Education
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marymount University, 2012
B.A. Furman University, 2008
My Training Experiences and Treatment Modalities
The treatment modalities and training experiences listed below are the approaches I use most frequently in my clinical work. As a provider, I work to tailor these approaches to each client’s individual needs, goals, and circumstances.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) for adult and pediatric populations, International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Behavioral Tech Institute
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Trauma-Focused Therapies: Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Written Exposure Therapy (WET)
Perinatal Mental Health Training, Postpartum Support International (PSI)
In addition, I am consistently reminded me how much there is still to learn and understand as both a clinician and a human being. Therefore, I provide these modalities with humility, recognizing that no single modality or treatment is effective for everyone and always could use improvement.
Who I work with
Throughout my clinical career, I have worked with individuals across a wide range of identities, roles, and lived experiences, including:
Older adolescents, young adults, adults, and older adults across the lifespan
Parents, including mothers navigating the perinatal period
Diverse racial, cultural, socioeconomic and religious backgrounds
Gender identities and sexual orientations across the spectrum
Neurodivergent individuals (including Autism, ADHD, and related differences)
Individuals with chronic illness (Autoimmune disorders, Gastrointestinal Issues, etc.)
Professional Athletes who are navigating performance anxiety, injury and recovery, and mental health challenges; Student Athletes (High School and College Level)
Working Professionals in high performance industries (e.g., tech, corporate, startups)
Healthcare workers (Physicians, nursing, mental health providers, etc.)
Individuals in creative fields (e.g., artists, writers, performers)
My Background
Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, I moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2012 after completing graduate school in the Washington, DC, area. Over the past 15 years as a mental health provider, I have been able to treat thousands of individuals as they navigate challenges related to their mental health.
However, becoming a mental health provider was not always the plan. I had originally planned to pursue a career in journalism, gaining experience as an undergrad by writing and editing magazine articles to writing for a congressional news service in Washington, DC. Although I intended to continue on that path after graduation, a meaningful experience I had after graduation ultimately changed the direction of my life and led me towards working in mental health.
After completing my undergraduate degree, I had an opportunity to help facilitate self-care groups for women. Through this work, I was able to witness the profound impact of validation and compassion, especially for vulnerable individuals who had experienced chronic invalidation or trauma within their communities. These interactions ultimately led me to pursue graduate school to become a mental health counselor. Since my first day attending graduate school in 2009, I have never looked back.
Throughout my career, I have continued to find deep meaning and fulfillment in my work with others. When I reflect on my life, I have long felt drawn to supporting and caring for people during times of vulnerability.Therefore, this work continues to feel both natural to me and deeply aligned with who I am.
The truth is, I consider it a great honor to be a provider. As long as I have the opportunity to practice, I hope to provide a safe, supportive, and compassionate space for those seeking support.
“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.”
When I am not working, you can find me on the Salish Sea trying to improve my orca whale photography skills - my happy place!