“The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.” ―Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
I have been a wanderer and explorer of both our inner and outer landscapes most of my adult life. My undergraduate education took place in Bellingham, Washington at Western Washington University, where I pursued a degree in Environmental Education and Outdoor Recreation. I spent the next ten plus years working for a variety of wilderness organizations, with the bulk of my time at the Colorado Outward Bound School. I enjoyed the challenge of leading groups through mountains and canyons with a large focus on personal exploration and discovery. These experiences fueled my interest in helping facilitate profound reflection and growth. It takes courage to scale a rocky peak, but equally so it takes an inner strength to look at those dark parts inside that limit us from living an authentic life connected to our truth and strength. In wilderness education I watched individuals push past their fears, bust out of their preconceived notions of themselves, and find new ways of fostering compassion for self and others. These powerful moments led me to return to graduate school in Boone, North Carolina at Appalachian State University where I graduated with a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Addictions Counseling.
For the past fifteen years I have worked in a variety of therapeutic settings, ranging from inpatient to outpatient. I have worked with groups, families, couples, and individuals to find more effective ways to manage difficult emotions and limiting behaviors. My focus has involved supporting a wide range of challenges including depression, anxiety, postpartum mood/anxiety issues, supporting parenting challenges, chemical dependency, self-esteem, life transitions, trauma and grief.