BIOGRAPHY

There is truth in the old saying, “If you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life again.”  I have loved the journey to becoming a licensed psychotherapist and I look forward to assisting you in attaining your personal wellness goals so you may live your life more confidently and completely.

I was in junior high when I found out a friend was living in an abusive home.  As I sought out a trusted adult to tell, I remember thinking, "I wonder who else is in pain?  Hurting?  Needing help?"

That event forever changed my perspective and understanding about the people around me.  I began to wonder what each person I came in contact with had experienced in their life--that week, that day, that hour.  Most often, we have no idea what others have lived through to develop into the people we see around us every day.  Sometimes, the events a person has endured can interrupt psychological and emotional development and growth, which can prevent a person from living their lives as abundantly as possible.

My education and career have led me down an excitingly diverse road.  After graduating from California State University Bakersfield with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History, I entered the field of academics as a substitute teacher.  I subsequently earned my teaching credential and continued as an educator until 2007 when I earned my Master’s degree in Educational Counseling and became a school counselor.  I then went on to complete the clinical coursework necessary to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, or LPCC.

While completing my licensure requirements, my employment on a local crisis and suicide hotline enabled me to provide crisis intervention services to adults, adolescents, and children as well as case management services to adults in mental health and substance use disorder recovery. During this period, I was recruited to join a local non-profit the "Public Safety Professionals Retreat,” (previously known as "Rotary House Retreat"), for which I now serve as Program Assistant.

I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (CA LPCC #610) licensed in the State of California to provide professional clinical counseling services to adult and minor individuals pursuant to California Business and Professions Code section 4999.20 and Title 16, California Code of Regulations, Section 1820.5.

In addition to state licensure, I have earned the following certifications:

• Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC)
• National Certified Counselor (NCC)
• National Certified School Counselor (NCSC)
• American Association of Suicidology Certified Individual Crisis Worker
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Master Trainer
• Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Facilitator

In addition to the most common mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, and self-harming behaviours, I am dedicated to and have supplementary training in the following:

POPULATIONS

• Adults
• First Responders
• Veterans
• Adolescents
• LGBTQIAP Community

MENTAL HEALTH FIELDS

• Crisis
• Suicide
• Grief
• Loss
• Assault
• Violence
• Trauma
• Stress

I am a proud member in good standing in the following professional organizations and strictly follow the Code of Ethics of each designated with an asterick (*):

• California Association of Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC)
• American Counseling Association (ACA)*
• American Psychological Association (APA)*
• California Psychological Association (CPA)*
• Los Angeles County Psychological Association (LACPA)*
• American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)*
• American Association of Suicidology (AAS)*
• International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF)
• International Association of Chiefs of Police – Police Psychological Services Section (IACP)
• International Public Safety Association – Mental Health Section (IPSA)
• California Peer Support Association (CPSA)
• Kern County Law Enforcement Foundation (KCLEF)
• Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA)