Upon entering graduate school, my plan was to become a school counselor, having identified school as a system that failed to meet my needs during my years as a young student who experienced behavioral challenges. During my first year immersed in clinical social work, I studied attachment theory which posits the following: one’s bond with their primary caregivers during childhood creates a template for how they build and interpret social and intimate relationships as an adult. From this knowledge base, I developed a deeper understanding of myself and began to make connections between my past experiences as a child and my current view of myself and others. Then came my discovery of the field of *Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH)* and of the opportunities to intervene even before the early school years! I was hooked and fully committed to this new path. 

From here, I felt I was able to put the remaining pieces of the puzzle together as I developed my understanding of mental health and human development through specialized training in other various frameworks and theories: Chronic Stress, Trauma and Resilience; Diversity-Informed Practice; Early Childhood Development; Multigenerational Practice; Neuroscience; Perinatal Mental Health; Polyvagal Theory; Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Theories; Reflective Practice; Relational Development Framework; Substance Use Disorders; Systems Theory; and Social Justice. I have been trained and certified in ten evidenced-based modalities pertaining to parent-child dyadic assessments, relationship-focused home visiting interventions and models of care, and attachment-based group parenting education programs. The programs I most utilize in my practice with families include: Circle of Security Parenting, Promoting First Relationships, and Brazelton Touchpoints. 

I have over 10 years of experience serving diverse families of young children in various settings, including overseas in a cross-cultural capacity. I have worked as an IECMH therapist for the past 5 years and have experience in multiple settings including programs of Early Intervention, Parents as Teachers, WISe, home visiting. Most recently I worked as the IECMH Clinical Supervisor and Program Developer for a residential inpatient treatment program for pregnant and parenting women in recovery from substance use disorders. I am passionate about family preservation and prevention of child-parent separation and have demonstrated my commitment to serving families at-risk of separation by child welfare. I have also provided Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) for programs of early childhood education including child care and preschool settings. If you are interested in learning more about me and my approach to my work, hop on over to the Guiding Principles page.