
Professional Experience
As a provider, I strive to help clients become the best version of themselves while setting and achieving meaningful goals for their future. I enjoy working with individuals of all ages—adults, teens, and children—each brings a unique perspective. I’m honored to support clients in expressing and addressing their life struggles.
Life can be challenging, but I believe in celebrating even small victories with my clients as they grow. I also recognize the importance of laughter to offer a bit of relief from the stresses we all experience.
I am trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques, specializing in trauma-focused approaches such as Brain spotting, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Brain Integration Therapy. Brain spotting helps clients process past trauma and release emotional stress held in the body. CPT is an evidence-based method effective in treating PTSD and related conditions.
I also use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients share and process their experiences, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for building healthy coping skills for everyday life. Additionally, Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) is useful for helping clients break through mental barriers and problem-solve with support.
With a background as a school counselor, I have extensive experience supporting students with learning disabilities, writing 504 Plans, and participating in IEP meetings. I assist parents in advocating for their children's academic success.
I tailor my therapeutic approach to each client, ensuring the techniques used are the best fit for their individual needs, promoting healing and personal growth.
I am passionate about learning and growing, which fuels my commitment to mentoring counseling interns at both the master’s level and pre-license levels. The need for counseling services in Alaska far exceeds the availability, and I am dedicated to helping bridge that gap by nurturing the next generation of counselors.
A Personal Journey of Growth and Service
I grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, and have always considered this beautiful community my home. My family moved to Alaska in 1985 when my dad was stationed at Ft. Wainwright for his final military assignment. My mom taught at the base preschool, and I attended school on Ft. Wainwright. After my dad’s retirement from 20 years of military service, we settled in Fairbanks, which I proudly call home. My parents instilled in me the values of integrity, hard work, and pursuing my goals.
I am now raising my family here in Fairbanks and happy to call “Golden Heart” city of Fairbanks my home. I am married and have 2 awesome boys who are always on the move. When I am not in the office I enjoy playing hockey with my husband during the winter. During the summer months I enjoy being outside camping, hunting and fishing. I feel very fortunate to have both sets of grandparents here as well to help with our boys as they grow.
My academic journey began at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, where I earned my bachelor's degree and played college soccer for 2 years. From there, I pursued a master's in secondary education in Juneau, Alaska, which led me to a year of teaching health, math, and science at Harriet Tubman Middle School in Portland, Oregon.
However, my heart led me back to Fairbanks, where I spent the next decade as a PE/Health teacher at Randy Smith Middle School. During this time, I realized my passion for guiding students through their emotional and mental challenges, which inspired me to earn a master's in school counseling from Anchorage, Alaska. After completing additional training to expand my skills, I transitioned into private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
I spent a year as a school counselor at Randy Smith Middle School, working alongside my mentor, Linda Bode, before becoming the head counselor at another clinic in Fairbanks for five years. I then earned my counseling supervisor license so I could help support and encourage new counselors in the field. With a growing vision to provide more comprehensive mental health services to my community, I founded Aurora Counseling in July, 2022.
