Professional Qualifications:

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (license # LF00001895) and Child Mental Health Specialist in the State of Washington.

I received my Master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in couple and family therapy from Antioch University, Seattle. My undergraduate degree is in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Psychology from The Evergreen State College.

I am a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy.

Professional Awards:

Kitsap Mental Health Child & Family Services Employee of the Year, 2005.

Therapeutic Philosophy:

You are the expert on your life (or your child’s life) and our work together builds on the strengths and skills you already possess. Just as an accomplished athlete takes their raw talents and develops them through honing skills and practice, therapy can help you further grow the skills and talents you already have and identify areas where new skills are needed.

My theoretical orientation is based on developmental psychology, how family systems work and helping families build positive, healthy relationships. I incorporate cognitive, behavioral, psychoanalytical, and relationship-based principles. I also employ Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. I have found when treating young children, it is most useful to use a multi-modal approach to create change in behavior and emotional healing, for example employing cognitive-behavioral techniques, relationship oriented intervention, family therapy, and traditional play therapy. I believe it is essential for me to have a working knowledge and full understanding of a child’s family, social, cultural, educational, and emotional experiences in order to effectively treat them in therapy. Family participation in treatment is essential for successful outcomes; however, family participation may take many forms, such as family therapy sessions, home behavior management plans, school or child-care consultation, parenting agreements, or separate parent counseling.