I have partnered with children and their families in various roles throughout my career. My core beliefs are that every child and every family has beautiful strengths and resiliency and that every child and every family has the capacity to heal and grow. It has been such a privilege throughout my career to see kids learn, parents feel more empowered, and families become more connected because of the work we do together. Through that team effort, my clients, their families, and I have helped find their pathway to healing, enhanced and built positive family dynamics, and allowed them all to find regulation of emotions.
The first 15 years of my career was as a school social worker where I worked with and advocated for students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. This gives me inside knowledge about school systems, special education processes, and an ability to partner with schools and other agencies to create a holistic system of support for that child.
I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and specialize in treating trauma, depression, anxiety, childhood difficulties, and family transitions. My favorite way to engage with children and families is through the use of play. I have a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Augsburg University, a Play Therapy Certificate from Bethel University, and I am a lifelong learner with plans to continue my education even further. I am currently working toward becoming a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and am under the supervision of Marit Appeldoorn.
I am also a social work supervisor and I am able to provide supervision for social workers seeking independent licensure. I have served as an adjunct instructor in the Master’s of Social Work Program at Augsburg University and have provided professional development to educators, businesses, community groups, churches, and other youth educators, businesses, community groups, churches, and other youth-serving organizations.