I am thrilled to be a part of the Aurora Counseling team, where I primarily serve children and adolescents. I enjoy collaborating with young clients and their families and supporting them on their individual healing journeys.
Approach
I strive to create a caring, compassionate, and safe space where clients can bring their whole selves and explore the healing process together. I incorporate art as an extension of talk therapy, as creative expression often helps foster connection, self-understanding, and meaning in a contained and supportive environment. Art can offer another way to communicate experiences and emotions that may be difficult to put into words.
Personal Philosophy
I believe that we can do hard things, and that no one has to navigate life’s challenges alone—even when it feels that way. Healing happens in spaces that honor our inner world and support us through growth and change. Art has been a powerful tool in helping me understand myself and the world around me, and I hope to help others do the same. My therapeutic approach is client-centered, trauma-informed, and strengths-based.
Qualifications
I have always been drawn to helping others and creating art, which led me to pursue a career that integrates both. I earned my bachelor's degree in art therapy from Mercyhurst College. After several years working in social services in Fairbanks, I returned to graduate school in 2008 and earned a Master of Arts in Expressive Art Therapies and Mental Health Counseling from Lesley College.
In 2013, I obtained my Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential in Alaska. I have worked in a variety of settings in the Fairbanks area, including a day treatment school, residential youth programs, parent and family therapy groups, substance use treatment programs, and individual counseling, which has shaped my well-rounded and flexible clinical approach.
