My Background

I am from the Midwest, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. Like many entering adulthood, I felt the urge to go to the pacific northwest. So, I did, and was grateful to attend Lewis & Clark College where I majored in psychology and became lifelong friends with people from all over the world. As a member of the varsity rowing team, I enjoyed the magnificent sunrises on the Willamette every morning making the cold rainy practices worthwhile. 

After college, I stayed in Portland, OR for four years working in various mental health clinics and research laboratories. I worked in a methadone and suboxone treatment center as well as a suicide and crisis hotline. These experiences working with trauma, suicidality, and substance use had a profound impact in my development into the clinician I am today.

After applying to graduate school, I was offered a fellowship to attend Bowling Green State University in Ohio. There, I completed both my master’s degree and PhD in clinical psychology. My research focused on the comorbidity of Gambling Disorder and PTSD; specifically the role dissociation plays in the severity of this presentation. I completed my doctoral training Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Hospital. I gained specialty training and experience treating Veterans with rotations in the PTSD Clinical Team, Substance Use Disorders Clinic, and General Mental Health Clinic. During my post-doctoral year I gained training and experience treating OCD and Anxiety-related disorders at a specialty clinic. Since this time, I have almost exclusively been honing my skill set in providing exposure-based therapies for OCD, PTSD, and various anxiety-related disorders. I find this work incredibly fulfilling and profound to witness people change their lives for the better by rediscovering their own bravery.
 

For the past several years, I have been back in the city I love and feel lucky to be continuing the work I find meaningful and fulfilling as an exposure therapist and specialist. In my free time, I enjoy traveling whenever I get the chance. I enjoy cooking and any hobbies related to food/drink. As a former athlete (football player, wrestler, and rower), I love being active by playing sports such as flag football, pickleball, and learning how to box. I also strongly value the reduction of animal cruelty and advocating for animal rights. I also enjoy spending time with my two small elder dogs Sallee and Gidgie as well as Frankie my adopted orange cat.