Experience & Background

Professional Background and Expertise

I have over 25 years of experience helping clients work through intimacy and relationship concerns; parenting skills; trauma recovery; depression and grief; anxiety and stress; addiction to alcohol, drugs and food; career and workplace issues; and spiritual development.

For 10 years I led CU Boulder’s office for grief counseling and victim assistance services. I also wrote and administered two national grants awarded to the University by the federal Department of Justice.

My clinical experience includes outpatient clinics, inpatient hospital, residential treatment, school, university, refugee resettlement, and criminal justice settings with individuals, families, and groups.

In addition to my private clinical practice, I have been an affiliate faculty member in the Masters in Social Work program at Metro State University in Denver since 2011. In 2016, I received the Distinguished Affiliate Faculty Award for teaching excellence at the Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Social Work annual social work awards.

Academic Background

I have worked in the mental health field since 1985. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Miami University and my masters in clinical social work from Smith College in Massachusetts specializing in clinical practice with adults and families. Since 2011, I have taught in the MSW program at Metro State University in Denver.

Licenses and Accreditation

I have been a licensed clinical social worker for over 20 years and am a licensed psychotherapist in the State of Colorado.

Professional Presentations

Parent Engagement Network 2016 Transitioning to College at Monarch High School

Parent Engagement Network 2012 Parenting Self Care

Parent Engagement Network 2014 Parent Resiliency

Metro State Social Work Keynote on Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care

Understanding Depression for Hope Coalition – University of Colorado at Boulder (dozens of venues 2003-2015)

Holiday Resilience 2011 First Congregational Church Boulder