As a psychologist, it is a privilege to accompany individuals on their journeys of healing, growth and transformation. In my teaching and mindfulness-informed therapeutic work, I enjoy supporting individuals in meeting the circumstances of their lives with more grace and good humor. I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University and have over 28 years experience as a clinician and educator in a variety of settings including universities, community mental health, sexual assault support services and the public school system. After serving as the Assistant Director and Clinical Coordinator at Counseling and Psychological Services at CU Boulder for 5 years, I transitioned into full-time private practice in Louisville, Colorado in 2012. Areas of clinical expertise include brainspotting, mind-body integrative healing, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindful Self-Compassion, work-life balance, burnout recovery, women’s issues, grief and loss, transitions, trauma, chronic illness and health challenges.
I utilize a developmental and interpersonal perspective that looks at individuals in the context of their daily lives, taking into account what is important to each client I work with, including relationships, identity, values and goals for therapy. I take a mindfulness-informed approach to therapy and often draw upon mindfulness-based, integrative and body based approaches to healing. I use a variety of tools with clients including brainspotting, guided imagery, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for depression, grounding exercises, DBT skills, and stress management techniques. I tend to be very experiential in the work that I do, teaching clients coping strategies and new skills, as well as allowing time for deep processing and insight, as old traumas and habit patterns are released and the nervous system is rewired. I also work with the therapeutic relationship and what is happening in the session and consider this an important part of the growth process. I work from a strength based perspective and try to help clients identify and build on the capacities they already possess, and setting goals that support healing and transformation.
My therapeutic practice is informed by 2 decades of training with a focus on mind-body based interventions. I have completed over 350 hours of training in Brainspotting and am a certified brainspotting therapist and consultant. I am also a certified Kripalu yoga teacher and have pursued additional training in Elemental Yoga, a mind-body approach to yoga and yoga therapeutics, and completed a year-long training in offering yoga to cancer survivors. I am a certified MSC teacher and have completed the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher Training with Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, along with advanced supervision with Michelle Becker, LMFT. I studied with the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at the Duke University Center for Integrative Medicine for 4 years. During the past 17 years, I have trained at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, completing the Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation Training, the Dedicated Practitioners Program, the Heavenly Messengers Program (focused on aging, illness, dying and awakening) and the Advanced Practitioners Program (focused on awareness, emptiness and awakening). I have practiced yoga for over 28 years and vipassana meditation since 2003, and have taught Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, yoga, and Mindful Self Compassion classes and other mindfulness workshops throughout Colorado since 2007. I also deliver web-based mindfulness programs nationwide as a contract mindfulness facilitator for Moment Health.
Teaching, training and supervision also remain passions and I deeply enjoy mentoring clinicians in training. I am a certified Brainspotting Consultant and love supporting clinicians in deepening and developing their brainspotting skills through the certification process. I am also currently a mentor for Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, supporting students’ development as meditation teachers.
I remain inspired by the resiliency of the human psyche and spirit and consider it an honor to support individuals in their process of healing, growth and transformation. I look forward to working with you – as an individual therapist, short-term mindfulness and yoga consultant, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction or Mindful Self-Compassion instructor, or as a supervisor.
In my spare time I enjoy hiking in beautiful Colorado, yoga, meditation, cooking, photography, and savoring time with family, friends and my ever curious cat.