About Me

I am from the Midwest. My undergraduate degree was in fine arts from Drake University. I have always enjoyed helping people and decided to follow my first love of counseling in graduate school. I have a Master of Art in marriage and family therapy from Northwest Christian College in Eugene. I am happily married with a loving family. I enjoy reading, walking, time with family and friends, and going to seminars to enhance my career. I like to study the latest trends in helping people heal.

About my practice

I have been in Kaiser Permanente's Addiction Medicine deparment since 2005. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, a nationally certified addiction counselor, and a certified professional counselor. I use a "wellness" approach to treatment. This encourages people to explore their strengths and resources to promote positive change. What I like best about being a Kaiser Permanente provider is that our Addiction Medicine team uses evidence-based practices to assist members in overcoming their addictions and codependency issues. This allows them to gain the tools and skills needed to live the kind of lives they have dreamed of living.

How I thrive

I thrive by focusing on one of my passions, which is health. I eat mostly organic food, do mindfulness twice daily, use my eliptical machine and chi machine, and go for walks. I spend quality time with my family. I maintain close friendships. I love animals and spend time with our family pet. I am a life-long learner and am always following the latest information on health and healing. I am grateful that Kaiser Permanente's philosophy is in line with mine.