Who we are

EXPERIENCE

I am the niece of a retired homicide detective and the daughter of a retired volunteer firefighter. I have also worked as a mental health crisis responder with police, EMS, and fire teams. These encounters have given me a strong understanding of the special needs and shared trauma that first and second responders sustain, along with the bonds of brotherhood that connect them.

As a social worker, I understand the specific challenges faced by those who help children, seniors, and families, whether in child welfare, adult protective services, or in hospitals with emergency medical staff.

Over the course my 27-year career, I have witnessed the profound beauty of learning, growing, and healing in community with people who ‘get it’.

EDUCATION & TRAINING / CERTIFICATION

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Oregon. I received my Master of Social Work in 2012 and earned my Doctor of Philosophy of Science (PhD) in Social Work and Social Research in 2018, both from Portland State University School of Social Work. My clinical training is in post-traumatic stress, developmental trauma, and crisis response and I bring this lens in service to first and second responders, social workers, and emergency medical professionals. 

As a trauma psychotherapist, I am trained in Brainspotting, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Emotional Freedom & Tapping (EFT), and I am certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Mindfulness-based Interventions (C-IMP). Likewise, I am a Certified First Responder Counselor (CFRC), where I spent many hours learning about first responder culture and accompanying local law enforcement for ride-alongs to improve my knowledge of interpersonal and professional stressors.

I am trained or certified in the above evidence-based modalities to ensure a holistic and comprehensive approach to healing mind, body, and spirit.  

WHY ME? 

First and second responders, social workers, and emergency medical professionals have unique cultures. I believe culture is medicine, a place from which we can collaborate to bring about healing and growth, and I tailor therapeutic interventions to honor this.