I found my start in social work back in New Jersey in 2006, as a care manager helping older adults stay stabilized in independent living. This was my first post-college adult job, and yikes — it was a rough transition! Even after a year, I still hadn’t quite found my footing, so I fled to the West Coast without much of a plan. Because, as we all know, we can simply outrun our problems.

Eventually, I landed in Albuquerque, still unsure of most things and feeling pretty lost. I ended up earning a degree in Veterinary Technology and spent several years working as a surgical veterinary technician. I enjoyed the work, and it scratched my medical-interest itch, but ultimately it wasn’t sustainable for me.

After another relocation to Colorado and some searching — well, for myself, I suppose — I started my Master’s in Social Work in 2014 and reconnected with my passion for social justice and mental health. It wasn’t until 2017, though, that I really started finding my footing. I began the brutal process of facing my own addiction issues, got sober, and built a strong support system.

Later that year, I started working in shelters and programs serving unhoused adults and families. That’s where things finally began to feel more aligned. It didn’t mean I stopped having my own battles or fighting my own demons — I’m not sure that ever really stops — but I had found a path that felt like mine.

In 2023, I made the decision to begin practicing clinically, and I’ve been working in both community mental health and private practice ever since.

The journey to where I am now has been full of errors, setbacks, and failures. Whether I kept pushing because of commitment to the cause, general stubbornness, or even spite at times, all of the progress — both the occasional big leaps and the slow, sloth-like movements — ended up mattering. I’ve also found that my own struggles, while difficult to live through, have given me a deeper ability to connect with and empathize with people navigating their own.

And if you’re looking for a therapist and reading a dozen different About Me sections right now: you’re doing it right. Finding the right therapist matters. The goal isn’t just to find a therapist; it’s to find the therapist who feels like the right fit for you.

If you think we might be a good match, let’s connect!

Schedule with me now