My journey in the mental health field began after working in wildlife biology and ecology for a number of years. After being intimate with the living world in this way, I soon realized that our environmental "problems" are actually social ones. At the same time, I was moving through difficult experiences in my own life and found meaning and connection in cultivating my relationship with the living world. It was this connection that saved my life. The confluence of these experiences is what brought me to social work.

During my social work program, I specialized in working in Indigenous and Rural communities. My focus during the program was on the interactions between environmental and social justice issues and the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health benefits of connecting with the Earth. At this time, I worked in school-based settings with K-12th graders, including alternative high schools and community schools.

After graduating, I moved to Bend, Oregon, to work in wilderness therapy. In this setting, I worked with high-needs adolescents and young adults in a remote landscape. It was here that I gained more experience with these populations and started to hone my attachment-based skills.

​I currently work at the Center at Heron Hill, an outpatient eco and animal-assisted therapy group practice located on a 60-acre horse farm outside of the city of Portland. The land includes trails, creeks, meadows, as well as horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, and pigs. My practice has expanded to work across the lifespan. I now mainly work with adults, but also enjoy working with teens and older children.

my story