“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien
Since 1998, I have worked in the field of mental health and education.
I have been involved in systematic research around how large mental health centers function from using “best practice” models.
Establishing healthy foundations by working with parents of young children (birth-3) through parent-child classes.
Being a Waldorf early childhood teacher and teaching children ages 3-7.
Providing clinical therapy services for children, parents and individuals.
But what does that say about me as a person?
Of interest to some clients
- I have a therapy dog, a goldendoodle, named Rudi, who everyone loves when they meet him, even an exchange student we hosted who had an intense phobia to dogs…until she lived with Rudi. Because my office is on the second floor and the stairs are too steep for Rudi, Rudi will not be in my office.
- I struggled with parenting my two strong-willed children when they were young children. I wondered why I couldn’t figure out what they needed at the time. Therefore, I get it when you feel like “I’ve tried everything and nothing works”.
- I absolutely love both flower, vegetable, and berry gardening. Recently, I have begun exploring the use of biodynamic preparations, and love making my own compost.
- I was born in Europe, emigrated to NYC when I was 7, spent time in the Midwest and am a moved to Maine in 2016. Transitions to new environments are in my personal repertoire.
- “Coffee or tea?” you might ask. Both. Coffee in the morning, and tea the rest of the day. Water? Sparkling, unflavored is my preference.
- I birthed my children at a Birth Center in Kansas, and used Hypnobirthing as part of the process. Recalling that most tender and vulnerable time in a woman’s life connects me to my passion of helping parents through the massive changes between conception and the first three years of their child’s life.
For those interested in details
I am a fully licensed clinical social worker in the state of Maine. My social work degree is from the University of Kansas.
I received my Masters in Education from Sunbridge College, with a focus on Waldorf early childhood education.
In addition, I studied clinical psychology in a doctoral program (at Western Michigan University) for 4 years but did not complete the degree recognizing that my way forward was not to become a behavioral psychologist, but rather a more holistically minded social worker. While studying at Western Michigan University, I completed a Holistic Health certificate program, new at that time. This shift in my future career was not an easy one to make, so I can empathize with those decisions that make us toss and turn at night.
As a teacher myself, I have personally experienced what it is like to have children who experience learning and emotional struggles. I have worked in schools. This gives me an understanding of how teachers and school staff can often attend to children with behavioral challenges in the classroom.
I have taught parent-child classes for over 10 years, helping parents navigate the early years of their child’s life, and have taught in early childhood classrooms in Kansas and Maine.
I have received training in TFCBT (trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy), CB-SP (Cognitive behavioral suicide prevention), and work with children using play based therapy, Faster EFT (a variant of emotional freedom technique, or tapping), expressive arts therapy, sand-tray based therapy, psycho-education, mindfulness training, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy and Heartmath® training.
I am a certified Brainspotting practitioner.