Areas of Focus and Specialization:

I have over ten years clinical experience working with individuals, families, groups and couples in various settings including long-term therapy, short-term goal oriented therapy, advocacy, crisis counseling and provided support while navigating the legal system, medical system, and child welfare system. In this time and through these experiences, alongside various trainings I have come to specialize in the treatment of; 

• Trauma and Complex Trauma
• Abuse: Physical, Sexual, Emotional
• Child Abuse and Neglect and Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Human trafficking 
• Intimate Partner Violence and Domestic Violence
• Anxiety and Depression
• Mood Disorders 
• Dissociative Disorders
• Comorbid disorders intersecting physical and mental health
• Chronic Pain
• Addiction

Education

I received a bachelors in International Studies from Hope College in Holland, MI. then I continued my education at The University of Michigan where I received a Master in Social Work. I experienced these official paths of learning as a jumping off point and have since completed and will continue to engage with training and materials that serve as a deep dive and provide up-to-date understanding of trauma and how trauma affects the mind and body. 

Employment

• 2018-Present: Individual and Family Trauma Therapist in Private Practice: Focus remains on holistic health and healing from interpersonal trauma, mood disorders, brain-body connection and strengthening connections in interpersonal relationship
• 2017-2018 Trauma Therapist at Safe Horizon Counseling Center: Specializing in interpersonal trauma, relational trauma, and dissociative disorders 
• 2015-2017 Family Therapist and Social Worker at Brooklyn Community Services: Provided family therapy and served as a family advocate to families who had involvement with the child welfare system, often addressing generational trauma active in family dynamics, and effects of socioeconomic bias and racial injustice within the child welfare system.
• 2014-2015 Therapist at Dr. Ross Halpern and Associates Chronic Pain Clinic: Focusing on treatment of chronic pain and cooccurring mood disorders.
• 2014 Legal Advocate and Counselor at SafeHouse Center: Provided legal advocacy and support as well as mental health counseling to survivors of intimate partner violence, gender based violence and sexual violence
• 2012-2013 Survivor Advocate at First Step Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency: provided individual and group therapy as well as crisis counseling and crisis response to survivors of intimate partner violence, gender based violence, and sexual violence

Additional Trainings & Certifications

• IFS: Internal Family Systems:
• ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy 
• Brain Spotting
• Compassionate Inquiry by Gabor Mate
• Hakomi Somatic Experiencing
• Applied Polyvagal Theory by Steven Porges and Deb Dana
• Polyvagal Theory and Yoga w/ Ariel Schwartz
• Integrative Approach to Treating Trauma by Janina Fisher
• Structural Family Therapy
• Trauma Focused CBT
• Mindfulness