I have 12 years of experience utilizing empowerment based, trauma informed, healing centered, culturally allied services. I have worked in a variety of clinical settings as well as higher education, community and non-profit agencies – with individuals, couples, families, groups and communities.
I am also a Clinical Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah and teach clinical labs and oversee practicums MSW students.
The umbrella of all my clinical work is trauma and attachment.
Throughout my career, I have gained a deep understanding of trauma and the impact it has on our well-being – mental, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual.
Although I have extensive training and experience in trauma-informed care and healing-centered engagement, I use an individualized, collaborative and eclectic approach to treatment of all symptoms and problems my clients face.
I firmly believe that each and every individual is the expert in their own experience and own definitions of healing and growth. I am here to collaborate, guide, and support my clients on their own journeys. I avoid harmful power dynamics and instead emphasize empowerment.
I accept, affirm and celebrate every client’s unique identities, strengths and values. I am queer and trans allied, culturally humble, and proudly bound to inclusive and ethical practice according to the National Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics.
I have many years of experience with survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and family violence, both non-clinically and clinically. I believe that trauma informed care must include a safe, collaborative and warm approach at the very least – and be focused on skill building, processing, healing and growth.
In addition to being trauma focused and healing centered, I have expertise, experience and passion for working with couples and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (maternal and paternal).
For my clinical couples work, I integrate the Bader-Pearson Developmental Model and am trained and experienced in the Gottman Method for Couples therapy. I love working with couples and find that an attachment and emotionally focused experience with me, along with skill building, psychoeducation and lots of homework for couples to practice outside our sessions facilitates healing and sustainable growth and increased love, connection and satisfaction in partnerships.
For Perinatal and Anxiety and Mood Disorders, I have completed the basic PMAD training and am working toward full certification through Postpartum Support International. I participate in as many professional development and training opportunities as I am very excited to implement evidence and best practices into this needed and important work. I implement the evidence-based interpersonal psychotherapy model and integrate it with mind-body connection, cognitive behavioral therapy, skill building and psychoeducational approaches. It’s important, if my postpartum clients have a partner, that they are included and supported in the therapy – where I bring that attachment, emotionally focused and trauma informed lens to make healing and posttraumatic growth possible and sustainable.
I love what I do and am proud of the warm, compassionate, empathetic, humanistic and strengths based approach I take with my clients. I bring my sense of humor, creativity, optimism, hope and joy and find that our connection, trust and rapport create lasting and positive change and healing in my clients’ lives.