I graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Business and Psychology. At the beginning of a brief stint as a retail executive after college, I volunteered as a mentor for an organization that helped at risk youth. That was the beginning of my journey. I quit my corporate job to work full time in a residential treatment facility for severly traumatized youth. Shortly after that I went to graduate school to become a therapist. I received my Master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Science from Bastyr University in 2003. The focus of my training was in systems theory and marriage and family counseling. 

     Since then, I’ve worked in community mental health agencies and private practice. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor through the state of Oregon. In addition to therapy, I’ve spent the past twenty years leading groups, workshops, and classes for adolescents, parents, educators, and therapists. 

     People often ask how I keep from getting burned out of this work. The answer is simply, I still love teenagers! I also have so much empathy for challenges of parenting. I continue to learn every day. I continue to learn every day and I feel super lucky that I get to make a living do this work that I love.