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I graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and a Graduate Certificate in Children's Mental Health.  I completed an internship at the Alaska Child Trauma Center, working with both a therapeutic preschool and the Alaska Native Head Start.  I spent four years working at Birchwood Behavioral Health in Anchorage, Alaska.  For three of these years I worked with teenage girls living in residential treatment, providing trauma informed care to them and their families.  During my last year at Birchwood, I helped to start and operate an outpatient therapy program for children and adults.  In 2017, I became a Licensed Professional Counselor.  I opened Chequamegon Counseling in 2019 and have been providing therapy services to Washburn since that time.  I am an EMDR Certified Therapist and an an EMDRIA Approved Consultant-In-Training.  I have specialized training in EMDR, specifically with children/play therapy, military/veterans, and first responders.  Other techniques I use frequently that I have additional training in are Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). 

 

I use many different therapy techniques, and enjoy working with each client to find what works best for them.  I believe that clients should walk out of my office with a sense of empowerment and validation, not fear.  Working together and finding each client's strengths, as well as providing real life tools, are important aspects of therapy.  I believe that therapy should be accessible to all people, and I aim to provide high quality services to all populations.  I hope to make therapy and mental health treatment a regular part of the "maintenance" that we perform on our bodies in order to stay feeling and functioning well! 

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A huge part of who I am as a therapist is the nonprofit work that I do. I believe that our communities deserve to be strong and healthy, and that we are stronger together. In 2022, I founded The Auxilia Initiative, which provides free EMDR services to first responders and community members after crisis. Alongside fellow volunteer therapists, I have the opportunity to impact others before they are in dire straits, and be prepared to respond to a community emergency. You can learn more about the work we do at www.auxiliainitiative.org.

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On a personal note, I enjoy cuddling my dogs, traveling, and spending time with my family. I have a love for all animals, especially dogs.  I strive to live a balanced life, though as a working mom I often find that as big of a challenge as most others do!