In addition to leading the Counseling Center and developing programming and services to meet the needs of UP students, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and offer therapy for individuals, couples, and groups as well as workshops and trainings in collaboration with campus partners. My work with clients focuses on personal growth, emotional insight, and healing. I see therapy as a temenos—a safe and reflective space where students can explore their inner world, process life transitions, and connect more deeply with themselves and others.
My approach draws from depth psychology (working beneath the surface) and integrates creative tools like imagery, myth, metaphor, and expressive arts to help make sense of emotional experiences and unconscious patterns. I work through a relational and strengths-based lens, and I hold a deep commitment to cultural humility and honor the complexity of each person’s lived experience, including spiritual exploration and the unfolding of gender and sexual identity. Whether you're navigating identity questions, relationship challenges, or a desire for deeper self-understanding, my goal is to support you in reconnecting with your inner wisdom, fostering insight, and cultivating a more authentic and integrated self.
When I'm not at work, I am enjoying time with family and friends, outside with my dog, and exploring in and around Portland.
Education
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing individual and group therapy. I deeply believe in the dignity and self-worth of every person. I strive to create a trusting and brave space free of judgment for those I work with, using a trauma-informed approach to care and practicing cultural humility. I incorporate elements of and techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. My experience lies most extensively in supporting individuals with addressing symptoms of anxiety and depression, adjusting to recent changes in their lives, and navigating challenging relationships. I hope to offer tools and strategies to empower you to live a life most aligned with the person you want to be.
Outside the office, I love playing and watching sports, finding the balance between exploring the outdoors and snuggling on the couch watching TV, and doing it all with my family.
Education
As a Licensed Psychologist, I work with clients at UP and occasionally in international waters. My approach to counseling focuses on understanding how my clients are thinking and feeling about themselves and their lives, including how their identities and situations (campus, family, friend-groups, our pandemic-era world, etc.) impact their mental health. In session, I work with my clients to understand the strengths they have, the resources UP can provide, the challenges they face and then build the skills to face those challenges. The goal is to build mental wellness and also to achieve their goals both individually and as a member of their communities.
In the non-counseling parts of my job I connect with UP students, staff and faculty to promote a culture of healthy relationships, non-violence, and survivor support.
When I’m not working, you’ll find me taking my dog for a walk, singing karaoke, and climbing at the gym or crag. I also write for the Psychology in Popular Culture book series (such as Wonder Woman Psychology, Westworld Psychology). We are a group of psychologists, mental health counselors, psychology professors, and psychology-minded people in media who geek out about comic books, sci-fi and fantasy. We write about how psychology can be used to understand our favorite characters better, and maybe understand ourselves better in the process.
Education
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000
