WHO WE ARE

Prior to becoming a mental health professional and eventually starting my own counseling practice in Gold Canyon, AZ, I lived in Wyoming for 23 years where I raised and trained horses and competed in rodeo events.  In 2001, I started an equine therapy business called “Whole Horse Connection,” where I utilized equine massage therapy and other alternative treatments to heal the horse’s physical ailments, and their nervous system disruptions, also known as trauma.  Horses are similar in humans in that they are “herd” animals, and their ability to stay and feel safe in their environment is directly related to the health of the herd they run with.  I have a specialized interest in not only treating individual trauma, but also relational trauma such as codependency, love addiction, infidelity, and other issues that appear in dissatisfying relationships.

I primarily utilize RLT (Relational Life Therapy) with all of my clients.  RLT is a form of therapy that emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships and the ways in which our early relationships with caregivers shape our attachment styles and patterns of relating to ourselves and others throughout our lives. Traditional talk therapy, on the other hand, typically focuses on exploring and resolving individual psychological issues or symptoms.

I currently live in the east valley on my hobby farm with my little family of humans and animals. I grew up in Connecticut and moved to Arizona in my adolescent years.

Before joining the practice I worked as a couples and individual therapist at The Arizona Relationship Institute for two years. Prior to that I have 8 plus years of experience working in community and institutional mental health which includes: prison corrections, behavioral health technician (inpatient hospitals and groups homes), and crisis specialist. I have worked with various populations including complex disorders, severely mentally, veteran, law enforcement, victims for crimes and abuse and many more.

Over the years of experience i have formed in interest and passion in trauma and relational/individual sex therapy. What I’ve noticed is trauma and sex issues are common and looked over in treatment. There are so many different factors that contribute to both, such as: family attachment, moral values, intimate partner relationships, abuse, self awareness, lack of boundaries, long term stress, grief, toxic shame, ect. All of these factors develop in childhood and are apart of us as adults. They can create walls of protection that keep us distant from connection with ourselves, our partners and the world around us.

I believe everyone has the power to break down those walls, create new paths and accept the path that was behind us. The path through healing and bettering ourselves can be challenging and uncomfortable but once we get to the other side it makes it all worth it. I enjoy and look forward to meeting those ready to walk a new path.