ABOUT ME

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here.

 

Taking the first step toward support and growth is a big deal, and I’d be honored to walk alongside you on your journey toward greater well-being, both personally and in your relationships.

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What is Systems Therapy?

Systems therapy focuses on understanding people within the context of their relationships. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I consider the many connections and social environments that shape your experiences. While I’m specially trained to work with couples and families, I also work with individuals—always through a relational, systems-based lens.

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My Approach

In addition to training in foundational counseling approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Bowenian, Structural, Experiential, and Narrative Therapies, I also specialize in attachment-based modalities, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method (Levels I and II). Furthermore, I am EMDRIA-certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to support clients in processing trauma.

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My Background

Originally from Northern California, I moved to the Pacific Northwest for college, where I earned dual BAs in History and Spanish. Studying abroad four times during that period deeply shaped my worldview and led me to pursue a doctorate in Sociology. Since then, I've lived in New Mexico, Washington, D.C., and Montana before settling in Washington in 2013.

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Alongside my counseling work, I am a professor and the Director of Marriage and Family Therapy at Whitworth University in Spokane and as Associate Faculty at the City University of Seattle. In 2019, I published a book exploring the “Ring by Spring” phenomenon at Christian colleges. I later earned my master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy at Whitworth, focusing on how societal expectations around marriage impact relationships.

 

My Interests

When I'm not teaching, counseling, researching, or writing, I enjoy quality time with friends and family, exploring new places, and being outdoors. I also love playing the piano and occasionally dabble in pottery. I consider myself a spiritual person, and if spirituality is an important part of your life, I'm comfortable and experienced in incorporating that into the therapeutic process.

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Above all, I’m passionate about hearing others' stories and helping individuals recognize and reach their true potential.