I grew up primarily in Southern California, the youngest of 6 children. I moved to Northern California to attend undergraduate and graduate school, and that’s where I met my husband of more than 30 years. We have 2 adult children and have lived in Oregon since the mid-1980s. I have worked at Kaiser Permanente for more than 12 years, mainly as an outpatient therapist but now as the supervisor of the Mental Health Triage Team. I chose the mental health profession because I enjoy collaborating with others to learn how to create healthy and happy lives, despite the physical and emotional barriers that we often experience.
The Mental Health Triage Team is a lively group of licensed mental health professionals who help members access mental health services. We are usually the first point of contact for the Mental Health Department, and we work to implement a seamless plan of care, which often includes the member's Family Medicine doctor and other community resources. I love the integration of care that Kaiser Permanente provides and the team-based approach that targets both mind and body.
I learned a long time ago that I have to practice what I preach to my clients and members. I enjoy walking with my husband and dog and having weekly coffee and laughs with my two best girlfriends. I am an obsessive knitter and enjoy a good Netflix binge now and then. The older I get, the more I learn not to take myself too seriously, to practice gratitude, and to savor every moment.
