More about me…
My professional journey to become a therapist began some 30 years ago when I was 17 years old. Fresh out of high school, a bit lost and disoriented, I agreed to take a Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aid course with a friend. After completing my training, I worked in a variety of hospital settings including post-op, sub-acute, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing facilities. What proved to have the greatest impact on me was working in hospice care with patients and their struggle to find meaning, as well as with grief-stricken adult children with loved ones in dementia care nursing homes. It was during this time a growing passion for knowing others’ pain, connecting with them through our shared pain, and working to help diminish this pain. Through this early experience in nursing–combined with growing up in a family riddled with pain from mental illness, generational dysfunction, and addiction–a passion to help others heal formed and a path forward emerged.
As a psychotherapist, I work from a Relational Psychoanalytical and Jungian approach. I treat individual adults 30 years of age and older. My patients are typically from all walks of life, cultures, religions, and backgrounds. Please visit my page on Specialties for more about areas I specialize in.
Experience and Curriculum Vita
CURRENT LICENSE AND AFFILIATIONS
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: WA #LF 61159909; OR #T1329; CO #928; NV #1020
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor III OR #18-R-41
- Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor NV #331
- National Certified Counselor #95857
- American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy Approved Supervisor
- Fellow Member – American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy
- Member – Oregon Friends of Jung
- Member – Oregon Counseling Association
- Member – Washington Mental Health Counselors Association
- Member – International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
PAST LICENSE AND AFFILIATIONS
- Nevada Association of Marriage & Family Therapy – President (2012-2017)
- Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor Approved Supervisor -NV
- Licensed Alcohol Counselor – CO
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist – VA
- Member – Southern Nevada HIV Prevention Planning Group (2013-2017)
- Member – International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
- Member – Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health
- Child and Family Investigator – CO
EDUCATION
Pacifica Graduate Institute
PhD Depth Psychology ABD 2014
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Master of Science, Counseling December 2004
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology May 2002
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Private Practice, Vancouver, WA, Psychotherapist/Supervisor
May 2021 – Present
Private Practice, Portland/Lake Oswego, OR, Psychotherapist/Supervisor
August 2017 – April 2021
Private Practice, Las Vegas, Psychotherapist/Supervisor
January 2005 – March 2018
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, MFT Program, Adjunct Graduate Professor
August 2007 – December 2017
Maria Droste Counseling Center, Denver, Psychotherapist/Supervisor
March 2011 – May 2013
University of Colorado, Denver, CO, MFT Program, Adjunct Graduate Professor
January 2012 – May 2013
Bridge Counseling Associates, Las Vegas, Psychotherapist
June 2003 – January 2006
Community Counseling Center, Las Vegas, Intern Psychotherapist
December 2002 – March 2003
SafeNest – Domestic Crisis, Las Vegas, Crisis Response Team Member
January 2001 – May 2003
OTHER CURRENT RELATED EXPERIENCE
North Las Vegas Police Department EAP and Critical Incident Counselor – Jan 2010 to May 2011
Psychotherapist, Horizon Academy: Residential Treatment Center, Amargosa Valley, NV – Jan 2006 to Jan 2008
COURSES TAUGHT
Ethical & Legal Issues: Marriage and Family Therapy – Graduate MFT (UNLV) – Spring 2017
Advanced Practicum – Graduate MFT (UNLV) – Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Fall 2017
Internship – Graduate MFT (UCD) – Spring 2012 & Spring 2013
Advanced Family Assessment– Graduate MFT (UCD) – Spring 2012 & Spring 2013
Contemporary Marriage and Families – Undergraduate (UNLV) – Fall 2007 & Spring 2008
Successful Couple & Marital Relationships – Undergraduate (UNLV) – Fall 2007 & Spring 2008
Personal Growth – Undergraduate (UNLV) – Fall 2008 & Spring 2009
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
AAMFT Annual Conference, September 2015 Austin Texas – Ethics in a Modern World
NAMFT Annual Conference, October 2015 Las Vegas – Ethics in Supervision
NAMFT Monthly Workshop 2014-present Las Vegas – Supervisor Ethics & Case Consultation