I am originally from Jeffersonville, Indiana. Growing up in a large Midwestern family, I took notice of emotions and family dynamics at an early age. I found psychology to be fascinating and it eventually became my passion, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. I have raised three children of my own and was a stay-at-home mother for several years. I decided to further my education and had a strong desire to become a licensed marriage and family therapist with the goal of helping others. The University of Phoenix offered a program that suited my busy work-life balance. In 2015, I graduated with a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Previously, I served as an intern for a local clinic in Colorado Springs that had an emphasis on domestic violence treatment. This clinic worked primarily with active duty military and veterans. I moved forward in my career working for a community mental health clinic in the youth and family center. This opportunity provided a diverse clientele and a broad experience with many disorders leading to my work with entire families to help build a better quality of life. I take an integrative approach to therapy, to encourage personal growth and increased happiness for each individual. I am Gottman trained at Level 2 for couples therapy.  I have specialized training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Training (DBT), which works to identify negative thinking patterns, such as suicidal thoughts or self-harming behaviors. The purpose of DBT is to address these thought patterns and progress towards positive behavioral changes.