I believe that every individual is worthy and capable of living a vibrant life of self-compassion, authenticity, and connection. I deeply care about supporting my clients and understanding their experience to the best of my ability. My approach is creative and playful, while being compassionate and direct. As an Art Therapist, I believe the creative process of art-making can foster new insights that one may not be conscious of in typical talk therapy settings, as well as help individuals open up in a way that feels safe to them. I am passionate about working with kids and teens and their families to support growth in family dynamics. I am also open to working with adults for individual needs.

I received undergraduate degrees in Painting and Psychology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. I hold a Master’s in Art Therapy Counseling from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, along with completed courses to qualify for my Licensed Professional Counselor license. I am currently a board registered associate with the Oregon Board of Licensed Therapists, counting clinical hours towards licensure. The majority of my experience is with kids, teens, and families, working with presenting problems of mood disorders, trauma, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and neurodivergence.

My approach is Person-Centered with a reliance on Art Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), trauma-informed principles, Narrative Therapy techniques, and Play Therapy techniques. When appropriate, I utilize inner child work to support individuals in building self-compassion and understanding. I believe that incorporating Existentialism can also be helpful in understanding the human experience and finding ways to cope. I value building a safe relationship where the Client can give me feedback in order to better meet their needs, and I will also provide feedback when clinically indicated to support accountability towards established goals.

Outside of work, I enjoy making mixed media art – from painting, to crochet, to collaging and more. I enjoy dancing and seeing live music with my partner and friends. In the spring and summer, I spend most of my time camping, traveling, or backpacking. I also enjoy staying active through exercise, and maintaining self-care through introverted activities like playing my Nintendo Switch and watching movies with my partner and cat.