About Me

I have been supporting the growth and healing of individuals and families for over 30 years.  I grew up in Southern Indiana and studied at Indiana University, earning a Degree in Recreation Therapy.  As a Recreation Therapist I worked in private residential treatment centers and substance abuse recovery environments, helping youth and adults explore their life challenges and the unhealthy patterns of thinking and coping that lead to imbalance in their lives.

Having initially moved to Oregon to work as a therapist on the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric unit of the Oregon State Hospital, I quickly fell in love with the Cascade Mountains and wild Oregon rivers.  I enjoyed leading therapeutic wilderness expeditions and experiential education programming as a mountaineering, climbing and river instructor with Outward Bound, and later with NOLS the National Outdoor Leadership School. 

I moved to South Africa in to work with the Outward Bound School of South Africa.  While there I had the opportunity to teach leadership, team building, problem solving, and community responsibility to youth from the villages and townships of post apartheid South Africa.  

Returning to the US, I brought much of what I had learned abroad to my position running a small non-profit service learning and community advocacy program for families and at risk youth in Seattle.

I received my Masters Degree in Counseling at Oregon State University, and went on to work as a Youth and Family Therapist and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor in Wilderness Therapy Programming. 

 I  Have spent the past 14 years deeply engaged in my Private Practice, enjoying supporting my clients, as well as working with other professionals in my community to create more opportunities for whole health and wellness.