My own path through grief and toward wholeness and hope has been one of exploring the deep connection between mind, body, and spirit.
As a mother of six sons, I’ve gained practical wisdom about family life, relationships, and the need for self-compassion—especially for women and mothers balancing many roles.
However, my guiding intention for my work as a therapist has been primarily shaped by profound personal loss. In 2002, our fourth son, Benjamin, died unexpectedly—a tragedy that brought heart-rending grief and post-traumatic stress.
Over the next years, the intense and arduous process of grief as a bereaved parent led me to explore the meanings of loss through my own spiritual journeys. My need to understand the deep effects of traumatic grief on my body guided me to study somatic healing modalities such as yoga and meditation. Throughout my 18 years of experience as an ERYT-500 yoga and wellness professional, I’ve developed a strong foundation in somatic and mindfulness-based practices that support emotional and physical well-being. My advanced training with Canmore Counseling’s Trauma-Informed Yoga School in Alberta, Canada, deepened my ability to integrate trauma-informed and compassionate approaches to healing.
Life took many turns for me — after raising our five sons and teaching yoga for years, I earned my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Messiah University in Pennsylvania, a CACREP-accredited and spiritually-oriented program. I completed my education and training in the DC metro area, Colorado and Texas. I focused my education on trauma, traumatic bereavement, and evidence-based treatments for PTSD and traumatic grief, including polyvagal theory, EMDR techniques, CPT, and TF-CBT, compassion-focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and advanced training in somatic and mindfulness interventions. These modalities inspire all my work with clients but especially those facing trauma, grief and loss. As a Level 2-trained Gottman Method couples therapist, I have helped many couples walk through pain and isolation toward renewed friendship and reconnection.
Through my work in diverse cultural communities, I have vital experience working with individuals and couples navigating grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, and relational conflict through a multicultural, inclusive, and trauma-informed lens. I believe every person holds a unique story and an innate capacity for connecting with themselves and others in their community.
My greatest strength as a therapist is my lived experience, bringing authenticity and insight to my work.
My purpose is to walk alongside you as you rediscover hope and move toward your own sense of wholeness.