I’m here to help! I love working with older children, adolescents, and young adults, as well as parents, to help everyone cope with life stressors and express their emotions in healthy ways. I have a passion for working with people suffering from anxiety and depression, as well as young adults who are dealing with that transition to adulthood and dealing with work or school stress, relationships, and difficult family dynamics.
A little about my experience…
- I received my Masters in Social Work with a specialization in School Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
- I have a Bachelors degree in Art and K-8 education, meaning that I was planning to be an art teacher at one time and I love to incorporate art into individual and group sessions when I can.
- I worked in one of the largest junior high schools in the United States (around 3,000 students) just outside of Chicago. This gave me a lot of experience working with a variety of students who were struggling with family stressors, trauma, abuse, self-harming behaviors, suicidal ideation, gang involvement, and various mental health disorders. This school experience also means that I have been involved in the development of Individual Education Plans (IEPs), 504 plans, Functional Behavioral Analyses (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs).
- I have worked for 3 years at Dynamic Interventions, Inc. in Santa Clarita providing social skills training for students and young adults with high functioning Autism.
- Most of the clients and students I have worked with over the years see me for struggles related to the following: anxiety disorders, depression, attention disorders, Autism, learning disorders, executive function skills, social skills, bullying, trauma, family stressors, relationship stressors, and difficulties related to life transitions (i.e. moving out of the home, starting college, moving to a new school, et cetera).
- I have been trained in a number of therapeutic models, but I particularly enjoy working from a cognitive behavioral therapy model. This means that we work on changing negative or problematic thought patterns in order to change feelings and behaviors.
- I am a member of Toastmasters for Mental Health Professionals. I have served as a board member for this group, both as Secretary and as the President. I’m also a member of Stagemasters, and a Qualified Speaker with the District 52 Toastmasters Speakers Bureau.
- I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers and a board member with the California Society for Clinical Social Work.
A little about me…
- I love art! I love drawing, painting, coloring, papier-mâché, making jewelry and going to art museums.
- I enjoy lifting weights, hiking, and trying new recipes.
- When I’m not working, I like to spend time with my two rescue dogs and travel with my husband.
Professional Memberships
