Find Out More About My Story

Smiling woman with earrings and patterned top.

My Story

Like most people, my life now is not what I thought it was going to be as a child. For years I worked as a trainer specializing in teaching riders who had traumatic accidents and horses who were abused. My approach was similar to CBT, but I did not know it at the time. Several of my students, who were psychotherapists, repeatedly encouraged me to go to graduate school. I am glad I listened.

Now instead of training horses, all I want to do is make a difference in people’s lives. As a therapist I am honored to be let into my client’s private world where I can join them in their process of self-discovery and change.

I’ve been on life’s journey with my partner Kimberly for 25 years. I am grateful to have found someone who also enjoys living the “no kill shelter” life. Over the years we have shared our home with dozens of rescue cats, dogs, goats, cows, and horses.

 
 

I Believe

  • Discovering all the versions of yourself, past and present, takes courage
  • With self-knowledge there is the power to both accept and change
  • Feelings tell us things, but they are not always right
  • Being authentically you beats being “normal” any day
  • If you don’t click with your therapist, it won’t work
Trees in four seasons from below.

Training and Experience

After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Chicago I gained experience in a wide variety of clinical and leadership positions. Since 1993, my direct practice experience includes individual (2 y.o. to 92 y.o.), group, family, couple’s and retreat-based psychotherapy. Throughout the chapters of my professional life, I have been a life-long learner keeping up to date with current clinical research and fully appreciating the gains from the school of Lived-Life.

I lean towards embodied and use-of-self modalities understanding that it is impossible to separate the mind from the body and that true healing is felt, not learned, most often in the context of a relationship. I tailor my approach using a wide variety of related approaches in a manner that best fits each client. Clients say I’m “real, wise and direct.”

In the last few years, I have witnessed the profound impact of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) can have for clients that assumed they would be struggling and suffering “forever.” I have committed much of my efforts to expanding this newer option in the Triangle by supporting local providers who also strive towards KAP best practices.