I began my work in the social service field more than a decade ago, working in a wide range of therapeutic settings before laying my roots as a marriage and family therapist. From therapeutic group homes and the juvenile justice system to community mental health and private practice, I have spent years working with individuals and families in a multitude of roles. I believe individuals, families and couples have the ability to support each other, meet each other’s needs, and solve their own problems. However, sometimes circumstances arise which make this difficult. At other times, people either lose objectivity with old problems or try to solve new problems in old ways. This is when professional assistance can make a difference. I believe that we all have our own experiencing of the world around us and that these experiences shape our narrative of ourselves, our relationships with others, and how these pieces fit together in our lives. I help clients understand these narratives and past patterns of behavior, and work to find new coping skills and solutions and provide support along the way. My therapeutic approach is collaborative, client centered, and active. I believe the relationship between myself and a client sets the tone for therapy and is key to helping the client on a path to wellness and reaching their established goals. I believe in holding space for clients that feels safe and comfortable for sharing and collaboration in helping my clients reach their goals. When working with clients I generally use a combination of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients form concrete goals with a time-limited approach. Additionally, I find a psychodynamic approach to working with clients to be helpful in meeting goals presented in our work together. I have worked as a therapist or counselor for more than ten years, have a BA in Psychology, a MA in Child, Couple, Family Therapy, and a MBA in Healthcare Management. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Washington, as well as child mental health specialist and maternal mental health specialist.