Thank you for your interest in learning more about me and potentially choosing me to help your child and family. My roots begin in Missouri, just outside of St. Louis. As a child, my family went through its fair share of difficult times. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to work with children because of some of the prominent adult figures who helped me during my times of need growing up. I started my career as a teacher and worked with children as a high school and middle school teacher from 2004-2007 until I decided I wanted to be able to help children on a more individual basis. While obtaining my master's degree from Missouri State University, I worked with high school students through a program called TRiO: Upward Bound to provide support to children who were first in their families to consider going to college and whose families met low-income requirements. Once I transitioned to California, I began providing therapy in 2010 through an agency assisting foster youth in San Diego County with the trauma they experience as they are being removed from their homes, as well as when they adjust to the foster home setting. I also provided support to foster parents as they worked through the behaviors and needs of the foster youth they were caring for. I began my private practice in 2017 in the San Diego area and have been actively working with children and families to achieve goals around behavior, anxiety, social skills, and many other needs. I am passionate about the work that I get to do with children and find myself feeling genuinely fulfilled in the challenging work that comes my way each day. My biggest and most important role is that of being a parent myself. I would be lying if I said that every day is rainbows and butterflies because we all know that it is not. Every child is unique, with some encountering feelings and scenarios that they are not sure how to get through and all parents are still awaiting that handy manual that should come with children when coming into your home to address each of these concerns. But...until then, perhaps I can be part of your team that supports you and your child through these experiences.