For more than three decades, I’ve worked with people navigating complicated emotional and relational territory. Again and again, I’ve seen that real change starts when we can name what’s happening inside us and between us, and stay curious about it long enough for something new to emerge. That’s the thread running through both my clinical practice and my writing and videos. Here, I’m building a place to explore those questions in plain language, with room for nuance and for real life.
Professional Path
My early work was with people facing homelessness, addiction, severe mental illness, and profound barriers to care. I began in a rescue mission, then worked in community-based programs that brought counseling into people’s homes and daily lives. Over many years in community mental health, I came to see that while not everyone faces homelessness, addiction, or severe mental illness, all of us encounter forms of pain, loss, and disconnection that shape parts of our lives. Those experiences differ greatly, but they deserve to be met with the same seriousness and compassion.
That work taught me to take suffering seriously without reducing a person to a diagnosis or a problem. It also deepened my respect for the resilience, dignity, and complexity people bring to the work of change.
For the past thirteen years, I have brought that perspective into private practice, working with individuals and couples in a more focused setting.
Credentials
- Master of Arts in Counseling
- Licensed Professional Counselor, Alaska
- National Certified Counselor
Contributions
Over the years, I have presented at local and national conferences, served on the Alaska State Mental Health Board, and taught courses at the University of Alaska. These roles have deepened my commitment to making psychological ideas useful beyond the therapy room.
Continuing Work
I hope this work makes useful ideas about mental health and relationships easier to access. Over time, I hope it can also give people a place to think alongside one another.