Originally from Southern Illinois, I grew up in a small, country town where my backyard was a corn field and my past time was hiking the trails of Giant City State Park. I have my Bachelors in Psychology and Anthropology from Southern Illinois University, and came to Jacksonville in 2013 for graduate school. I have my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). I am also a Qualified Supervisor for Registered Mental Health Counselor Interns. I am currently working on certification in DBT.  

          My counseling experience began in the non-profit sector, where I truly began to swim. I am an individual who lives by her values, and advocacy for mental health is at the heart of my work. This has been reflected in my work as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, and counselor for teens in diversion programs and adults coming out of our penal system. 

          Since this time I have switched to working in the private sector, where I have perfected my stroke via training and experience. I developed a Substance Abuse Group for teens, as well as worked as a Clinical Director of an Intensive Outpatient Program for Substance Abuse. There is no “one glove fits all” for addiction, but offering individuals multiple evidenced based methodologies is most effective.

                I specialize in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and have been intensely trained under Dr. Sharon Manning., DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified  Clinician.. I am currently working towards certification in DBT, and work under the mentorship of Dr. Allison Ventura, DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified  Clinician. I am also the Clinical Director of KEBT's IOP-SUD , run a DBT Skills Group, and meet with teens and adults struggling with emotional, behavioral, & interpersonal dysregulation. 

          Beyond my clinical experience, I am a firm believer in putting my own life jacket on first. So when not in the office, you can find me engaging in a variety of self-care activities: hiking, reading, exercise, spending time with my fur babies (Jar Jar Binx and Hans Solo) and friends, eating good food, and watching TV Shows. Thank you for listening, I look forward to getting to know you!