In 2019, I shifted my focus to a population I hadn’t yet worked with: children and teens. I joined Cincinnati Children’s as a Mental Health Specialist, where I worked directly with high-risk youth in crisis. These experiences taught me the power of authenticity in building therapeutic relationships—especially with teens, who can be slow to open up and quick to retreat. I learned the importance of reverence in crisis, and the healing potential of humor and playfulness. 

After completing my masters at the University of Cincinnati, I began working as a therapist at Life Worth Living, a private practice focused on DBT and eating disorders. There, I worked with both teens and adults in individual and group settings, and expanded my skills in supporting families. I became especially interested in working with family systems—not just addressing one individual’s suffering, but helping everyone better understand and interrupt painful, but very human patterns.

Alongside my clinical work, I’ve nurtured my own well-being through yoga, meditation, Buddhist teachings, and neuroscience. This led me to Somatic Experiencing (SE), a body-based approach to healing trauma and fostering presence. SE provides the skills we all need to recover from trauma, prevent trauma, and deepen the care and connection we bring to ourselves. SE has transformed both my life and my practice, helping me—and my clients—return to presence, aliveness and wholeness. I’m nearing completion of my 3-year certification and look forward to continuing my involvement in SE through volunteering and ongoing training.