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About Me
I grew up in Bosnia and Herzegovina and immigrated to North America as a young child during the Yugoslav Wars in the 90s. I have lived in various locations, including Bosnia, Saskatchewan, Ohio, North Carolina, and Spain. I attended Wake Forest University for undergraduate studies in Psychology and Spanish. After my undergraduate years, I pursued graduate studies at the University of Denver, where I obtained a Master’s in Social Work degree. During graduate school, I was fortunate to have valuable clinical internships, one with Kaiser Behavior Health, which eventually led me back to Kaiser. I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who provides services in the three languages I am fluent in. I enjoy meeting new people and helping my patients find their strengths to help them effectively deal with life’s challenges.
About my practice
A behavior medicine specialist (BMS) is a licensed psychologist or clinical social worker who works in the medical office building alongside primary care physicians to support your total health. This model of care allows primary care and behavioral health providers to work hand-in-hand as a team to care for you. If you need specialty care, your behavior medicine specialist or primary care physician will discuss this with you and help you get connected to the services that are best for you. In general, a BMS can screen for mental health and substance use issues, provide short-term appointments to reduce symptoms which may be causing you distress and improve your daily functioning. They are also a great resource to connect you with appropriate services if you need more specialized services, and they will help to coordinate your care so your primary care team members and specialty care providers are working together to provide your care. In many cases, a few appointments is all that is required, but if longer-term services are needed, a BMS can assist with the connecting members with a specialist.
How I thrive
In my free time, I enjoy nurturing relationships with family and friends. My children bring me so much joy. I also love to get outside to hike, run, bike, and ski. My favorite activity is traveling to places new and old and immersing myself in different cultures, which helps me learn more about the world around me.