I am passionate about working with people in all stages of life to support them in their journey to finding healing emotionally, physically and spiritually. I have been working with children and families for over 19 years. I earned my Bachelors of Science in Social Welfare from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1999. I then completed my Masters of Science in Social Work in 2005 at Loyola University. As a part of my clinical practicum at Rogers Memorial Hospital, I worked with both children and adults in the inpatient and outpatient programs. I also was part of a team which developed a trauma group for children within the child adolescent day treatment program.
As a therapist I utilize Play Therapy, Sand Tray Therapy, Exposure Response Prevention, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as interventions with children and adolescents. I enjoy seeking creative and playful ways for children, adolescents and their families to explore their hurts and heal in a safe and Christ-centered environment. I have specialized training in an Integrative EMDR approach for children with attachment issues and trauma. This approach allows parents to actively participate and support their children throughout the trauma treatment process. I also have completed training in Exposure Response Prevention for treatment of pediatric OCD and related disorders. This approach allows parents to actively participate and support their children throughout the trauma treatment process. My background in foster care and adoption has assisted in developing a unique understanding of my clients experiencing foster care transitions between homes, loss of parent relationships, child abuse and neglect, and adoption adjustment. My clinical areas of focus with children are trauma, anxiety, pediatric OCD, attachment, foster care/adoption issues, behavioral problems, depression and issues of grief and loss.
An additional part of my practice focuses on the support of women who are struggling with mental health challenges. My areas of clinical focus in my work with adult women include trauma treatment, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, parenting support, and issues related to grief and loss. I utilize EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) in trauma treatment for adult women to address histories of chronic abuse or single traumatic events.
“Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul” -Fredrich Froebel