A Little About Me

I grew up on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe and am forever imprinted by this environment. After graduating from North Tahoe High School, I mixed school and work focusing on economics and the environment. I worked for local government and in private sector environmental permitting and consulting before going on for more schooling. After I earned my MA & Ph.D. in economics, I taught at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, for 10 years.

Then came that desire to return to my childhood home and a growing passion to pursue a career in counseling and therapy. I went back to school and earned an MA in counseling psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California. I did my training at Sierra Mental Wellness Group (formerly Sierra Family Services), where I worked with a very diverse population and a broad spectrum of mental health conditions, from severe mental illness to people just wanting to increase self-awareness and life satisfaction. I also gained experience with all ages, couples, families, and cross-cultural counseling. This position gave me experience working with a variety of area agencies, schools, non-profit organizations, and medical professionals. I started my private practice in early 2009 in Tahoe City and then moved to Truckee.

I have a great enthusiasm for psychotherapy, psychology, and neuropsychology. As nerdy as it sounds, I find endless joy and fascination in keeping up with the literature and trends in the field, attending training, and continuing my education. This work is my passion.

Of course, I try to balance my work with other life ventures. I spend a great deal of time working and training dogs for search and rescue. I’m involved with Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team, California Rescue Dog Association, and several other area teams. In play, I’m a generalist. I have a particular love of backpacking, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, and swimming in mountain lakes. Of course, a great day is hanging out with friends and family and dogs in this stunning environment that I get to call home.