About Me and My Approach
About Me
I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 2006, and earned my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Saint Thomas in 2010. I am licensed (#3533) in the state of Minnesota and see clients both in-person and virtually.
Education
I have over ten years of experience working in the mental health field and have worked in a variety of different settings which have given me the experience to fulfill my passion of providing therapy to children and teens. Starting out, I worked as an in-home therapist where I learned behavioral techniques working with children diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). I have worked in a day treatment setting which allowed me to work with children and youth around trauma, behavioral concerns, severe anxiety/depression, and safety concerns. I have experience working for both elementary and middle schools which have given me insight of the school system, engaging in care coordination with teachers, and also information around special education services. Lastly, I have also worked in an outpatient setting for the past three years working with children, teens, parents, and families.
Experience and Training
Some fun facts about me are I love spending time with family and friends, being active (biking, paddle boarding, yoga, and hiking), hanging out with my tortoiseshell cat, Mia, watching Studio Ghibli movies, nerding out about Harry Potter, reading, cooking, and playing video games!
Fun Facts
My Approach
I strive to create a safe and supportive environment for your child or teen to learn about their feelings, ways to develop effective coping strategies, learn the tools to increase emotion regulation, and build interpersonal skills. I am passionate about finding ways to work with your child or teen through games, laughter, art, or unique interests.
I also enjoy working collaboratively with my clients. I work to ensure parents and caregivers are included in treatment planning and goals. I love hearing feedback and what is or isn’t working for your child or teen.
Creativity, playfulness, and humor with human to human connections.
I aim to make therapy non-pathologizing. This means I believe therapy is a tool for when there is a need for extra support, and sometimes life changes and external stressors can lead to a negative impact in daily functioning.
I strive to be culturally competent, LGBTQIA+ affirming, body positive, and anti-racist both in my personal and professional life to create a warm, safe, accepting environment for everyone.
Going to therapy does not mean there is anything wrong with you.
Therapeutic Interventions
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy
Strengths-based approaches
Client-centered therapy
Play approaches
Behavioral therapy
Mindfulness
Relational approches
Psychoeducation
Interpersonal therapy
I see my relationship with my clients as essential in helping your child or teen explore their experiences. I use a variety of approaches that include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to increase awareness of how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. I also use strengths-based approaches to build skills around what already works. I am passionate about validating my clients’ experiences and helping them rewrite their stories for how they see their past, present, and future. I have training in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) that focuses on building skills around distress tolerance, incorporating mindfulness, learning interpersonal skills, and increasing emotion regulation. All of these interventions allow me to combine my personality with evidenced-based practices to achieve your child or teen’s goals.