I love kids and families and have the great good fortune of having my passion be my work!
I specialize in identifying, creating strategies for, and clearing emotional and behavioral patterns in children.
I assist parents in creating family dynamics that balance the needs of all members, thus creating a positive foundation for growth and development. When a child’s (or any family members) needs are being met consistently at all levels, it allows energy that might otherwise be tied up in coping with problematic emotional, behavioral, family, or school situations, to be used for the development and flowering of a his or her potential. It is then that a child’s innate joy and love of life and learning begin to blossom.
Over the years there have been a number of personal situations that have been significant in shaping my perspective of working with children and families.
As a young adult, I was faced with cancer and was plunged headlong into my own healing crisis. It was through this process and with much help that I was able to overcome the cancer and heal myself. It was truly a hard work miracle. My healing process ignited in me a desire to truly learn and understand the process by which healing at all levels of ones being occurs.
After I was well enough to work again, I got my Master’s degree in counseling and then spent a number of years working in the hospice field, as a way of processing and understanding my own brush with death. In this field, I was impacted by my experience of how people were dying – often very ill, in denial, cut off from deeper levels of contact and experience of themselves and others, and especially pained by all that they were not able to come to grips with and let go of during their lives. And then it was over – there was no going back to correct what had gone awry.
The hospice experience led me back to working with children. I felt very strongly that we all needed to get off to a better start! And thus have a greater possibility of making it to and through adulthood with more of our innate talents, capacities, and gifts intact. This ignited another quest for understanding: what would it really take for a child to grow up whole and integrated?
As a school based therapist, private practitioner, and clinical supervisor, I’ve worked with kids in a wide variety of situations – from kids with highly disrupted attachment and traumatic histories to kids who have mild family, friendship, or school issues. I have extensive training and experience in trauma recovery for children as well as in play therapy.
No matter what the issue, the underlying cause of problematic emotional and behavioral issues in children is whether or not they are getting their real needs met at all levels and to what degree. And it is our responsibility as adults and parents in the lives of children to create relationships and environments in which this is possible.
My vision is to help develop vital, balanced, integrated, whole, and harmonious children and families who are then in a position to fully offer their gifts to the world.
