Background
I grew up in Great Falls, Montana, did my undergraduate work at Harvard University, and then worked as a freelance writer and editor for a number of years. I have lived, studied meditation, and served on volunteer projects in in India, Nepal and Myanmar. I also served on staff at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA and did one year of graduate study in Contemplative Psychotherapy at Naropa University in Boulder, CO. I moved to Seattle in 1999, where I worked in social services and at the University of Washington (UW), raised a family, and received a Master of Social Work from UW in 2011. Since graduation, I have worked in a variety of counseling and therapeutic roles with individuals, couples, and families, and I have been doing individual therapy in private practice with adults and adolescents since 2015.
My professional experience encompasses specialized training and experience working with challenges related to climate distress and grief; pregnancy and new parenthood; relationship stress; and addressing symptoms and patterns related to depression, stress and anxiety, trauma, addictive behaviors, and other problem areas. More recently I have completed a comprehensive, one-year didactic and experiential training and certification in psychedelic therapy, harm reduction and support.
I am committed to ongoing anti-racism work and activism for racial and climate justice, and my life and work are informed by a lifelong mindfulness meditation practice.
I hold a clinical research faculty appointment in the University of Washington's Department of Global Health, where I have worked since 2005 in a variety of capacities. I currently participate in the development, design, and implementation of a variety of research projects for the Program on Global Mental Health.
TRAINING & CREDENTIALS
I am licensed in Washington State to provide therapy and counseling as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW, #LW60668243, since 2015.
In 2023, I completed a year-long, 250+ hour certification program in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy from the Integrative Psychiatry Institute.
I earned a Master of Social Work in 2011 from the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to that, I completed one year of full-time graduate level training in Contemplative Psychotherapy at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.
I regularly supplement my training with continuing education to keep my skills and knowledge base up-to-date and relevant, and I subscribe to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.
Formal Trainings:
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI)
Gestalt Therapy: Gestalt Associates Training of Los Angeles (GATLA)
Motivational Interviewing: Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT)
Psychodynamic Theory and Practice: Wellspring Family Services
As well as a number of trainings in a variety of evidence-based modalities and techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and others.
I have additional professional experience working in immigrant/refugee support, career guidance, aging, and living with HIV.