I am a white, straight, cis-gendered woman who grew up as the oldest child in a highly privileged, middle class family. I was a “4-H kid” raising pygmy goats, market lambs, chickens, turkeys, etc. in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. I am married and I do not have children of my own (unless you count four cats). I love cooking, gardening, eating, and being outdoors and I’m all about reward - whether it’s an outstanding view, flowers, or some sort of delicious food at the end.

I have been working with families of very young children since 2006 as a home visitor through Relief Nursery, Healthy Families, and Early Head Start program. I have provided Reflective Supervision & Consultation for early childhood professionals since 2014 and have worked in a variety of early childhood settings as a home visitor, supervisor, manager, and mental health consultant.

I became passionate about intergenerational trauma and healing through witnessing the vulnerable and raw struggles of new parents whose children reminded them of their darkest moments, and who, with support, were able to transform parenting into their greatest joy.

I wanted to better understand and support this two-generational approach to healing and obtained my Masters in Social Work in 2014 from Portland State University with a certificate in Trauma Informed Services. I interned at a culturally-specific mental health agency working with the Spanish-speaking community and received culturally-specific clinical supervision under the Africana Paradigm.

I am a rostered clinician for Child Parent Psychotherapy and am endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor - Clinical through the Oregon Infant Mental Health Association. I strive toward body neutrality and Health at Every Size® in both my personal and professional life. I believe mental health challenges/“diagnoses” are normal and correct responses to the continual barrage of injustice, individualism, structural racism, and capitalism.