about me

About Me

I have been working with pregnant, birthing, and parenting individuals and families for over 25 years, and I love what I do!

I grew up in the Seattle area and went east for my undergraduate degree at Brandeis University. I moved back to Seattle after graduation and began working as a case manager with homeless youth and teenage parents. I loved this work and learned how to work with very complex family systems and help my clients overcome seemingly insurmountable situations.

In 2002, I completed my Master's degree in Applied Behavioral Science at the Leadership Institute of Seattle @ Bastyr University. In addition to learning clinical skills, my program was based on the concept that a good practitioner must also do their own therapeutic work. So, while learning and growing as a psychotherapist, I was also learning and growing as a person.

A few years after completing my Master’s degree, I realized how much I loved the pregnancy and birth aspect of my work. I had been to a few births where the birthing person had a doula, and I was intrigued by the idea of supporting families during their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. So, I embarked on my training and certification as a birth doula. I started working as a doula for private and low-income families; I also helped develop and manage the Birth Doula Services program at Open Arms Perinatal Services, a community-based organization that serves hundreds of pregnant, birthing, and parenting families every year.

In 2008, we moved to Boulder, CO and I opened my doula and psychotherapy practice there. I also completed my training and certification as a Lamaze Childbirth Educator and Happiest Baby Educator.

My passion for working with families during the perinatal period, along with my training as a psychotherapist, led me to working with pregnant and postpartum trauma survivors. In 2011, I was invited by Penny Simkin, PT and Phyllis Klaus, LMFT to become a When Survivors Give Birth (WSGB) Approved Trainer. So, in addition to serving clients directly, I have spent the last 13 years training other professionals on how to work with and care for pregnant, birthing, and postpartum trauma survivors.

In 2016, we embarked on a sabbatical to Guatemala, and upon our return to the states decided to come back to the Seattle-area to be closer to family and the water.

In the years since our return to Washington, I have continued my work as a psychotherapist and WSGB trainer. In addition, I worked as a Child & Family Therapist for the Hope RISING Clinic for prenatally substance exposed children and their families; volunteered on the Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth (PATTCh) board; and served as adjunct faculty for the Department of Midwifery at Bastyr University. From 2018-2021, I co-facilitated WSGB trainings with Penny & Phyllis, and in 2022 (when they both retired) I became the lead WSGB trainer and am now the President & Chief Training Officer for the When Survivors Give Birth organization.

I have been married for almost 20 years and have two incredible children. My children have taught me that parenthood is filled with some of the most incredible joys and most intense experiences in life, and they have certainly made me a more empathetic practitioner.

If you have questions about me or my services, please contact me.