Get to Know Me
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I am here to be a catalyst for transforming trauma into worthiness, to help you live in alignment with your true nature, as I align with mine. This website is where you can find information on my somatic therapy practice, my blog, my writing life & publications, and resources to help you rediscover your vitality. The body, mind, and spirit are interconnected and an imbalance in one area affects the others. Life challenges are an indication of a person or family trying to restore harmony. I believe in the healing powers of somatic processing, grounding, gratitude, intuition, stillness, and movement. We all have the innate ability to heal, but healing often happens in relationship. It takes courage to seek out connection and help from others. What you need to know about me—I love to travel, do things I've never done before, write, read, and create. Last but not least, I adore my Jack Russell Terrier mix, Scooter. Don't ask me about him, because I won't be able to stop talking. |
Background
Life is a slow awakening and each stage of my life has been a learning experience.
I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Like for most people, my youth and family shaped who I am today. My mom was an elementary school teacher, which taught me the importance of education. My dad studied sociology in college and his father was a social worker, which mirrored my deep desire to understand others. When I finally landed on a profession (after changing my major in college), I decided to become a school social worker. I studied Human Services at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois where I met my husband, Zach. Then, I went on to Loyola University Chicago to earn my Masters in Social Work. Chicago became my home for the next 14 years.
After graduate school, I worked as a school social worker at Evergreen Park Community High School in the suburbs of Chicago for 10 years. Then, life had different plans for me. I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and two associated autoimmune diseases. I struggled to keep up with the demands of the job. To focus on healing, I took a part-time job at DePaul University as a clinician in the Center for Students with Disabilities.
Everything changed when my husband and I went on a cruise to Alaska in the summer of 2017 for our 10th wedding anniversary. We fell in love with the mountains, trees, and fresh air of the Pacific Northwest. I followed my intuition to Seattle and we moved here in February of 2018.
It was in the PNW I met my somatic therapy teacher, Dr. Sharon Stanley, who created a modality for healing trauma called Somatic Transformation. I'm so grateful to Sharon for introducing me to this profound practice and for the millions of lives she's touched in a divine ripple effect.
As I started reading and learning about trauma, I noticed a hole in the literature. There were very few books written for the general public that were trauma-informed. Books were either written for clinicians or for the public, but included detailed accounts of trauma, which could be harmful for a trauma survivor to read. I'm writing a book on healing trauma for the general public, which includes important information about the nervous system presented in a measured way in which the target audience is able to digest it. This is a labor of love and I look forward to its eventual publication.
I've always used writing as a way to express myself and cope with this beautiful and sometimes overwhelming life. Journaling, poetry, and creative writing were outlets in my childhood and continue to be a source of joy for me. Eventually, I started writing about my own healing path and was asked to write for health and mental health publications. This led to a my second job as a freelance writer. You can see my full list of publications here.
I believe if we take notice of our suffering there are messages hidden inside. For me, my diagnosis came at a time when I needed to reevaluate my life and the direction it was heading. It provided constant reminder to be true to myself and advocate for my needs. The road is long and winding, but the journey is a gift.
When my health improved, it was time to follow my aspiration to start my own business. Now I am a therapist in private practice, group facilitator, poet, writer, and speaker with the purpose of helping others find light in the dark.
Life is a slow awakening and each stage of my life has been a learning experience.
I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Like for most people, my youth and family shaped who I am today. My mom was an elementary school teacher, which taught me the importance of education. My dad studied sociology in college and his father was a social worker, which mirrored my deep desire to understand others. When I finally landed on a profession (after changing my major in college), I decided to become a school social worker. I studied Human Services at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois where I met my husband, Zach. Then, I went on to Loyola University Chicago to earn my Masters in Social Work. Chicago became my home for the next 14 years.
After graduate school, I worked as a school social worker at Evergreen Park Community High School in the suburbs of Chicago for 10 years. Then, life had different plans for me. I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and two associated autoimmune diseases. I struggled to keep up with the demands of the job. To focus on healing, I took a part-time job at DePaul University as a clinician in the Center for Students with Disabilities.
Everything changed when my husband and I went on a cruise to Alaska in the summer of 2017 for our 10th wedding anniversary. We fell in love with the mountains, trees, and fresh air of the Pacific Northwest. I followed my intuition to Seattle and we moved here in February of 2018.
It was in the PNW I met my somatic therapy teacher, Dr. Sharon Stanley, who created a modality for healing trauma called Somatic Transformation. I'm so grateful to Sharon for introducing me to this profound practice and for the millions of lives she's touched in a divine ripple effect.
As I started reading and learning about trauma, I noticed a hole in the literature. There were very few books written for the general public that were trauma-informed. Books were either written for clinicians or for the public, but included detailed accounts of trauma, which could be harmful for a trauma survivor to read. I'm writing a book on healing trauma for the general public, which includes important information about the nervous system presented in a measured way in which the target audience is able to digest it. This is a labor of love and I look forward to its eventual publication.
I've always used writing as a way to express myself and cope with this beautiful and sometimes overwhelming life. Journaling, poetry, and creative writing were outlets in my childhood and continue to be a source of joy for me. Eventually, I started writing about my own healing path and was asked to write for health and mental health publications. This led to a my second job as a freelance writer. You can see my full list of publications here.
I believe if we take notice of our suffering there are messages hidden inside. For me, my diagnosis came at a time when I needed to reevaluate my life and the direction it was heading. It provided constant reminder to be true to myself and advocate for my needs. The road is long and winding, but the journey is a gift.
When my health improved, it was time to follow my aspiration to start my own business. Now I am a therapist in private practice, group facilitator, poet, writer, and speaker with the purpose of helping others find light in the dark.