Education and Professional Experience

  I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona in 1998, and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology at Boston College.  I have a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology that I received in 2005 from Arizona State University.  I am a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Minnesota (LP-5518).

  I have received focused training in community mental health, college counseling centers, and in training clinics focused on developing well-rounded, culturally sensitive psychologists.  I worked with intense mental health issues in a high-stress, high-pressure context at Cornell University's counseling center. Later as a Staff Psychologist and the Training Director for our American Psychological Association (APA) - accredited internship program at the University of Minnesota, my work continued to focus on college students and new professionals.  I am well acquainted with a vast variety of concerns, such as depression, anxiety, stress management, career-related issues, work/life balance, perinatal concerns (those trying to conceive, those needing support during pregnancy, and those who have needs postpartum), and parenting issues, adjustment issues (including grief and changes in life circumstances).  This is not an exhaustive list, so please contact me if you have questions about whether I can help with your concern.

How I Work

 I take a collaborative approach to counseling, where we come up with a plan for change together.  I use your sense of yourself, your history as you see it, and your hopes for change and add my experience and knowledge to help develop that plan.  I adhere to interpersonal and psychodynamic theory, which means that I value how your relationships influence and support you.  I implement different strategies based on the issue.  I often make recommendations for support in your life so that you have a new way  of being outside of therapy, and new tools that feel sustainable and long-lasting.  If you are seeking support for perinatal issues and are open to it, I might suggest "alternative" medicine and practices in consultation with your medical provider.  I value ways of supporting health through movement, massage, acupuncture, meditation, and other healing practices.