My Journey: personally and professionally

A combination of 20 years of professional Counseling experience, several years of education, and many personal experiences and struggles are what bring me to the point I am at right now. What I bring to the table as a therapist is not merely textbook knowledge and classroom learning. I, too, have struggled in life with anxiety, negativity, lack of assertiveness, and difficult life transitions. I know what it's like and I know that it is possible to overcome the fears, obstacles, and uncertainty. I have also witnessed and contributed to many people's success in overcoming these life difficulties which has allowed me to adopt a very optimistic and hopeful attitude towards the majority of people. Although I didn't get help for myself until later in life because I didn't know the help was out there, I did learn that my own worries and thoughts were contributing a lot to how I felt.

As a child I was quickly labeled "shy" and "too sensitive" and my worries and nervousness were misunderstood and basically brushed under the rug. I knew that it felt extreme but I didn't realize just how much my social anxiety and generalized anxiety effected my life. I would sweat, turn red, and feel my heart pounding out of my chest whenever I thought my teacher might pick on me to answer a question in front of the class. I loved being around people I knew yet feared approaching strangers either in person, or over the phone. Worse than that, I incorrectly assumed that most people didn't want to be friends with me. It felt very isolating.  Negative thinking and fears practically took over my life. I would have trouble sleeping for days if I knew I had to get a shot at the doctor. In college I had my first panic attack but had no idea what was happening or why. Gaining an understanding of anxiety and how much I have control over my own thoughts and feelings was life-changing. Learning how to relax and live in the moment through mindfulness has increased my quality of life and happiness tremendously. This is what I want to bring to others' lives as well.

Although I have always known that I wanted to help people for a living, my natural inclination to be a helper apparently started before I even understood what it meant to help others. I have been told the story many times by my parents that at about age 2 or 3, I would take the hand of my Great Aunt who had trouble walking due to Diabetes, and I would assist her.  Fast forward to high school and my Psychology class thoroughly fascinated me, while becoming a Peer Counselor led me to realize that a career in Counseling was definitely what I wanted to do with my life. I received my Bachelors Degree in Psychology with a minor in Social Work from West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 1997, and a Masters Degree in Counseling from The College of New Jersey in 2000.  Following that, I decided to continue on at The College of New Jersey to obtain an Educational Specialist Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I was inspired by my passion for working with the whole family to facilitate change. I graduated from the EdS program in 2003. In 2004, my dream of living in California was finally realized when I relocated to San Diego and worked hard to adjust to new surroundings with no friends or family around. I faced fears and overcame many obstacles in order to make my dream a reality.  I successfully made San Diego my home and now greatly appreciate the opportunity to help others make their dreams come true. 
My work experience was broad and rich with challenges and amazing learning opportunities.  I had the privilege of working with teenagers in a hospital Intensive Outpatient Program, and a substance abuse program, also with teens. I was also employed by school-based programs working with elementary, middle, and high school students on an individual, group, and family basis.  I have worked with foster families, adults, art college students (love working with creative minds), and have learned a lot about the special education system, both in New Jersey and California.  I have assisted people from about age 5 to middle-aged adults with challenges ranging from such things as Anxiety and Depression, to drug addictions, to communication difficulties within families, to discipline problems, to Aspergers Disorder, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, etc. I also had the honor of working as an Employee Assistance Counselor for the City of San Diego for a few years, where I provided counseling to any employee or their family member in need of support. 
 
For 4 years I was the Community Relations Chair on the board of the San Diego Chapter of CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists), and was able to utilize my passion for bringing people together to plan and coordinate social and community events. I strive to stay informed about current community organizations, resources, and trends in Counseling and Family Therapy so that I can best serve my clients. I completed UCSD's Center for Mindfulness class in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and absolutely love the richness that mindfulness brings to life as well as the relaxation, focus, and calmness that comes from meditation. In addition, I have been trained in Compassion Cultivation and enjoy helping my clients to provide themselves with more compassion and understanding during times of suffering as well as helping them to experience it for others. A recent addition to my experience and skills for the toolbox is Mindful Self-Compassion, also taken through UCSD’s Center for Mindfulness. Teaching clients how to be kinder and more gentle with themselves has become a passion of mine.

On a personal note, Bodhi, my Tibetan Terrier pup, has been a great addition to my life and adorable presence for clients when he pops in for a visit.