“I knew people who died by suicide, including my best friend's mother when I was nine years old and a neighbor's child the summer prior to entering high school, but never did I expect my own child to attempt suicide.”
What was your path to becoming a therapist?
For over 20 years, I worked in the medical profession as an x-ray technician. After a brief break, I returned to school to earn a bachelor’s degree and become a teacher. During that time, my son, aged 19, made a serious attempt at suicide and survived. I was not surprised that he thought of suicide, but I was shocked that he made an attempt. I myself had thought of suicide many times. I knew people who died by suicide, including my best friend's mother when I was nine years old and a neighbor's child the summer prior to entering high school, but never did I expect my own child to attempt suicide. I had questions and needed answers, so I earned a master’s in mental health counseling, joined the American Association of Suicidology, and started attending conferences, workshops, and training. I chose to become a mental health counselor because mental health is health!
What should someone know about working with you?
During the intake process, I will ask lots of questions; some are very standard and routine while others are more probing. Together, we will discuss treatment options and create a personalized approach for achieving success! Tasks relevant to your specific concerns are assigned as exercises and activities. They are completed between sessions for the purpose of accelerating your progress toward feeling better.
What do you do to continue learning and building competencies as a provider?
I read the most current literature and participate in training to increase and expand my cultural competence when working with diverse populations, such as the LGBTQIA community and veterans and their families, and to challenge my own implicit bias toward other races, religions, and economic status groups. I also continue to learn new skills and sharpen old ones and keep abreast of current research and outcomes.
What are you most excited about within the evolving mental health landscape?
I am most excited about the evolving telehealth field and the ease with which clients can connect to a mental health professional.
“I had questions and needed answers, so I earned a master’s in mental health counseling, joined the American Association of Suicidology, and started attending conferences, workshops, and training.”