About Me
Who I Am
You are not alone.
Relationship with other people and their deep and unwavering support allowed me to take the parts of life that I thought had broken me and - incredibly - turn those parts into something beautiful.
I spent most of my adolescence cycling through “alternative” high schools and troubled teen programs. As I emerged from this chaotic period of my life and began muddling my way through adulthood, I struggled with relationship breakdowns and the aftermath of trauma.
What kept me going - even in my darkest times - was connection. In my life, I have personally experienced what I believe at my core:
We heal within relationship.
In each chapter of my life, I was carried by someone who really listened; who showed curiosity, compassion, and genuine care. Someone who understood and could relate because they’d been there; who walked with me, who saw past the murkiness of the present and imagined future possibilities I couldn’t yet see. Someone who helped me discover parts of myself that I didn’t yet know.
This is what I bring to our work. My training and education have given me skills and expertise, but my lived experience (and many mistakes) has become a gift that’s given me empathy, wisdom, and hope regardless of the circumstances; and a passion to work with people in a real and connected way.
How I Work
I love people. The basis of my work is a relationship built on trust, honesty, and authenticity. I integrate pieces of counseling, coaching, mentoring, and health education with my own life experience. I am trauma-informed, strengths-focused, and personalized. My clients have told me they have:
✔ Felt seen, understood, and supported
✔ Deeper insight into what they’re feeling and why
✔ Moved from feeling overwhelmed and disoriented to
feeling a sense of clarity and hopefulness
✔ Less stress and more confidence
✔ Figured out what they want and how to get there
✔ Felt more authentically themselves with a greater
ability to connect with others and with their purpose
My Experience
Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of walking with people through times of heartbreak, transition, reclamation, and transformation in many different ways. These roles have included:
✔ Board-certified Stanford Hospital Nurse in Oncology and Pain Management
✔ Substance use and trauma counselor; intensively trained in Motivational Interviewing
✔ Trauma specialist, trauma researcher, and trauma program developer for the largest hospital in California; Certified Trauma Professional (CTP)
✔ Experienced, trained coach (ICF-accredited, CEG) for people working through a variety of life’s challenges
✔ Trained ADHD coach (JST Coaching)
✔ Founder of an organization supporting at-risk women for the last 12 years
✔ IFS-informed
I am passionate about being a trusted resource for people in the midst of confusion and sometimes crisis, and supporting them to find their way and themselves again. There’s always hope.
