"What matters is that we make choices with faith that we will survive the consequences, so that forever afterward we will hold the knowledge that our choices were stronger than the fear that held us back"

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (with Minors in Sociology and Women’s Studies) in 1991 and graduated from a child and family social work training academy in 1992. I have worked in the counseling field for over twenty years - first as a Child Protective Services Investigator, and later as a Substance Abuse Treatment Counselor in the state of Wisconsin (CADC II). Since moving to Colorado, I have worked with both adults and adolescents in both inpatient (hospital) and outpatient settings. I received my Master's Degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology at Naropa University and served my internship at the Naropa University Counseling Center.

Over the years, I have worked as an author and trainer for several personal and professional growth and development workshops which I intend to continue doing throughout my career together with writing books on personal growth and spirituality. I have received one year of specialized training in the Hakomi Method, and extensive training, at Naropa, in Shamatha meditation. I have also received special training in Group work, Gestalt work, Bereavement, grief and loss counseling, Life transitions, Marriage and couples counseling,and Human Sexuality.

I am particularly interest in utilizing our therapeutic relationship to facilitate present moment healing and lasting change for your greatest growth. I am interested in Buddhist psychology, and have experience working with trauma and abuse survivors, issues pertaining to sexuality and sexual identity, couples and group counseling, and personal identity issues. I am interested and educated in counseling mothers with postpartum depression, helping others to relieve chronic pain through mindfulness practice, supporting people through chronic illness, death and dying, and assisting in bereavement support. I am also adept at helping people cope with life transitions, depression and anxiety using a variety of methods and techniques to aid in your support. I am also a certified ASIST suicide intervention specialist. Additionally, I am a strong provider of LGBTQI support. In the future, I also intend to continue advanced training in the Hakomi Method.

In addition to my training in psychotherapy, I am also a Reiki Master and have extensive experience in using Reiki to assist others in moving emotions through the body in a therapeutic manner. I have been a Reiki practitioner for over fifteen years, and a Reiki Master for five years. When we block the natural flow of our emotions, we expend much energy in the effort to hold our emotions inside. This can happen inside or outside of conscious awareness and can have an impact on both physical and emotional well being. Often times, one may experience physical symptoms or emotional discomfort as a result of blocked energy. I am specially trained to use Reiki to assist with emotional release by helping to remove blocked energy through the body. It is not uncommon for a person who experiences pain in certain areas of the body to find amazing physical and emotional relief once this energy is unblocked and emotion is allowed to flow freely. I have over 15 years of practice in using Reiki to assist clients with emotional release work.