About Me
Treatment Philosophy
I believe that therapeutic change occurs through a supportive, trusting relationship in which the clients’ strengths are drawn out and highlighted. Within this relationship, I work to empower clients to develop awareness of themselves, their ways of relating, and their unique coping skills in the face of stress and change. As their awareness increases, I support clients in developing healthy ways of expressing and fulfilling their needs and desires. I believe strongly that clients are the experts in their lives, and that with support, encouragement, and the appropriate tools, they will develop the solutions for their lives. This work is heavily influenced by mindfulness and psychodynamic orientations, as well as family systems and feminist therapy beliefs.
Training & Certifications
I am a Washington State Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (# 5109), as well as a Children’s Mental Health Specialist. I earned a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes College in 1992, and a Masters of Social Work (Clinical Work with Adolescents and Families) from Portland State University in 1997. I am a member of the following professional organizations: National Association of Social Workers, the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), the Washington State Society of Clinical Social Workers, and the Association for Play Therapy. I completed two one-year graduate internships and worked as a Child and Family Therapist for four years in the YMCA’s Family Services Program, and for 3 years as the Clinical Director of the YMCA’s Mental Health Services program. During this period I worked with adult individual clients, families, and children in both office, residential and in-home settings. I have completed a significant amount of postgraduate training in post traumatic stress disorder, attachment disorder, mindfulness based therapies, working with severe behavioral problems, and narrative and play therapies. I am certified to provide EMDR (level 1). I have also taught as an adjunct faculty member of Washington School of Professional Psychology’s graduate counseling program, as well as in their undergraduate psychology program. I conduct frequent trainings to other professionals around the area.
Most recently, I have begun immersing myself in mindfulness practices and trainings. As I found this to be personally helpful, I began learning more about this Eastern philosophy and how to integrate it into psychotherapy. As a result, I began taking frequent classes to incorporate mindfulness practices into my practice and currently use it with success in my work with adults, adolescent and children. I have seen powerful results using Mindfulness Based Psychotherapy with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, grief and loss, Post Traumatic Stress and emotional regulation challenges.