I started dancing at age 3 (Thanks Mom!) and I never stopped. The dance studio was always my refuge and my sanctuary. I studied ballet, modern, tap, jazz, and acting. I was blessed with many opportunities to dance in a lot of musicals both nationally and abroad. After a professional career spanning a decade, and a two year stint working as a dancer on a cruise ship, I decided to focus on studying anatomy, trauma and neuroscience, and the therapeutic use of movement and creative expression as an effective modality for treating trauma and chronic pain/illness.

After losing a close friend to suicide, I felt a calling to merge my dance and movement work with serving humanity. In 2011, I graduated with my MSW, and became a fully licensed psychotherapist in 2016. Since then, I have worked in palliative care, domestic violence shelters, hospitals, and community based mental health clinics. In 2013, I became a registered yoga teacher, and proceeded to further my studies in yoga therapy. I became a certified yoga therapist in 2017, and am currently in a dance movement therapy certification program. Other intensive training I have completed, include EMDR, Laban Movement Analysis, Attachment Based Family Therapy, and Perinatal/Postpartum mental healthcare.

Not only did yoga help me strengthen and stabilize my body, but it allowed me to explore ways to heal my mind and regulate my emotions through ancient lifestyle.

My practice and treatment approach is informed by Buddhist and Yogic psychology and philosophical principles.

Integrating Buddhism and Yoga into psychotherapy offers a holistic approach to mental health that addresses both the mind and body, enhancing overall well-being. Buddhism contributes mindfulness and meditation techniques that cultivate present-moment awareness, helping individuals manage stress, reduce anxiety, and gain clarity in their thoughts.

Yoga, with its focus on physical postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation, supports emotional balance and self-awareness, promoting a sense of inner peace and resilience. Together, these practices foster a compassionate and non-judgmental mindset, encouraging clients to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their challenges. By incorporating these elements, psychotherapy can become more effective in promoting lasting change and personal growth, offering a comprehensive path to healing and self-discovery.

I love to provide support for those living with PTSD/Traumatic Stress, trauma from sexual assault and/or sexual abuse, chronic pain, chronic illness, childhood neglect, and mood disorders using the principles of somatic psychology and EMDR.