Licensed Mental Health Therapist
Licensed Natural Medicine Facilitator
Reiki Master
ABOUT ME
After over 10 years as an IT professional, I woke up one day feeling underwhelmed. What am I doing? Is this really what being happy is all about? In 2008, I had the proverbial rug pulled out from underneath me. I was laid off from my cushy IT job and had four weeks to find another. As you may recall, 2008 wasn’t exactly a great year for the economy, let alone IT jobs. After a few months of blasting my resume out there and getting nothing back, somebody told me that I might make a great boy’s group home staff. “Me?!?!” I reflected on being placed out of my home as a child and how scary it was. I decided to go for it. One day, my supervisor asked me to review all 12 boys’ files to familiarize myself with their stories. It floored me. That was the day I decided I wanted to serve people who are struggling. After all, several people showed me compassion and had faith in me.
Fast forward to 2016. I was well on my path to becoming a therapist. Then, the unthinkable happened. I lost my younger brother to suicide. I did not think I had the strength to make it. He was my best friend. Then, in 2018, I watched my dream family disintegrate before my very eyes.
The journey through these two major heartbreaks taught me a lot about grief and suffering. It also taught me that there is a way out! These events, as devastating as they were, served to strengthen my desire to help others. Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Nothing could be truer for me.
MY AREAS OF FOCUS
I am lucky to have had many experiences and jobs in my life. I have had the opportunity to work in restaurants, record stores, prisons, schools, drive school buses, group homes, child welfare, law offices, large corporations, and government agencies. Though I wouldn’t change a thing, by far the most rewarding has been helping others. Today, I’m grateful to be working with people to become their best selves.
Therapy
I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in clinical social work and am licensed through the state of Colorado. The type of therapy I practice is entirely dependent on what your needs are. I specialize in trauma, EMDR, and psychedelic-assisted therapy. I offer a free initial 15-minute call to discuss whether we would be a good fit to work together.
EMDR
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a mental health treatment technique. This method involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories. EMDR’s goal is to help you heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences. I hold a certification from the EMDR International Association and have hundreds of hours using this modality in my practice.
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) AKA Natural Medicine Facilitator
You may have seen “How to Change Your Mind” by Michael Pollan on Netflix. Or perhaps you know somebody or have heard a story about how psychedelics helped someone. I am certified by Journey Clinical to offer Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). I work closely with a local physician to offer KAP in my office. I am certified by the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI) to offer other types of legal psychedelic therapy, such as psilocybin and others. I am licensed by the State of Colorado as a Natural Medicine Facilitator. I have personal experience with psychedlics in professional settings and also co-facilitate psychedelic integration groups for the community. I will soon be opening a Natural Medicine Healing Center in Manitou Springs, CO.
Reiki
I used to be extremely wary of anything “woo” or non-conventional. My therapist at the time recommended that I try Reiki because, as we know, trauma is stored in the body. Talking about our problems with a professional is very important. What about the body and “spirit” components of a holistic approach? Reiki worked so well for me that I decided to add it to my toolkit for others.