I am a licensed clinical social worker and certified perinatal mental health therapist with over twenty years of professional experience. My approach to counseling is practical, supportive, and collaborative. By forming an authentic professional relationship while working to alleviate distress, my goal is for therapy to feel safe, effective, and accessible for clients with diverse perspectives and life experiences.

Professional Background

My social services career began when I worked at a group home for adolescents involved in the criminal justice system in Portland, Oregon. I moved to Jackson, Wyoming in 1997, after earning my undergraduate degree at Bates College in Maine. My work with adults who were managing severe and persistent mental health challenges in Jackson led me to return to school to earn my Masters in Social Work at the University of Wyoming in 2007.

Since graduating, I have lived all over the U.S., working in various community mental health and educational settings. In Worcester, Massachusetts, I formed safe and genuine relationships as a therapist in an alternative public school for adolescents involved in the legal system. While living in Seattle, I supported families to navigate complex relationships and experiences of loss and poverty. Locally, I worked in Missoula and Bozeman public schools to address trauma before starting my private practice in 2017. In addition to my own life experiences and raising my children, the variety of my professional experiences has enriched my clinical skills, informed my approach, and enhanced my understanding of diverse perspectives. I have held behavioral health board approved independent clinical social work licenses in Wyoming, Massachusetts, Washington, Idaho and Montana.

My Practice

I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), certified through Postpartum Support International as a Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) therapist, a rostered provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD, and a current member of the National Association of Social Workers. I primarily use interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT). Additional advanced training includes Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) and EMDR.

I specialize in treating post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) & perinatal mental health. Additional treatment areas include working with clients who are experiencing impacts of relationship conflict, grief, cancer, childhood abuse, sexual assault, and anxiety. My approach to the impact of mental health challenges includes understanding how we internalize the meaning that we receive from ourselves, our relationships, and life experiences. Most importantly, I assume a genuine relational and collaborative approach to therapy. I believe that everyone has the ability to understand and learn how to cope with the challenges of life, no matter how overwhelming or shameful they might feel.