My path into mental health counseling began with an interest in nutrition. Growing up as a dancer, I wanted to understand how to fuel the body for performance, which led me to study Nutrition and Dance at California State University, Long Beach.

When I began working in nutrition counseling, I quickly realized that food is about so much more than nutrients and willpower. Our relationship with food is deeply personal, shaped by culture, tradition, trauma, mental and emotional health, socioeconomic circumstances, genetics, body image, and access to resources. I became increasingly interested in how our experiences and emotional well-being influence our health.

Wanting to support people more holistically, I moved to Washington to pursue a master’s degree in Nutrition and Clinical Health Psychology at Bastyr University. During the three-year program, I gained clinical experience at Bastyr’s Center for Natural Health and completed a year-long community mental health internship at Sea Mar Behavioral Health.

After graduating, I continued working at Sea Mar, counseling adults with a wide range of mental health concerns. I went on to complete my supervised clinical hours and become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I then completed a year-long dietetic internship with Sea Mar to earn my Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist credential, all while continuing to work part-time in a group mental health practice.

My experience in community mental health deepened my understanding of how trauma, life experiences, and biological, psychological, and social factors influence our well-being. I became especially interested in helping people move beyond understanding their struggles to actually changing how they feel and respond. This led me to pursue additional training in approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and EFT tapping, which can help people work through distress associated with difficult experiences. If anxiety, overthinking, or persistent fears are affecting your life, you can learn more about my approach to EMDR therapy for anxiety and fear.

In 2020, I opened my virtual private practice. Since then, I’ve continued to deepen my EMDR training and specialize in helping adults process the past and present experiences that contribute to anxiety, fear, self-doubt, and persistent patterns. As an EMDRIA Certified Therapist™, I use EMDR to help clients work through experiences that continue to influence their beliefs, emotions, and responses today. Learn more about EMDR therapy in Washington and what to expect from the process.

My background in both mental health and nutrition informs my whole-person approach. I recognize that meaningful change involves more than understanding why we feel the way we do. It’s also about creating space for new experiences, greater emotional flexibility, and a different relationship with ourselves and our lives.

If you’re 20 or older and ready to work through patterns that no longer serve you, I invite you to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation. We can discuss what you’re experiencing and explore whether EMDR therapy is a good fit for your needs. I’d be honored to support you in your next phase of healing.