I was born and raised in smalltown Indiana. My interest in mental health began In junior high when I learned for the first time that a member of my family had experienced a traumatic event earlier in their life that triggered ongoing mental health concerns. When I took my first psychology class in high school, I really started to learn more about their diagnosis and mental health in general. I knew I wanted to keep learning but most of all I wanted to figure out how to get people talking more about this stuff. It’s important!

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For undergraduate, I went to Indiana University in Bloomington where I received my bachelor’s in psychology and criminal justice. Criminal justice kind of just happened when taking electives, but I really started to learn how complicated the system is and was pumped to try to problem solve some of the challenges. When it was getting closer to graduation and I had no idea what I was going to do, a mentor and friend told me what social work means. I got the opportunity with that that mentor to see what social workers at her job do. After a brief internship and spending some time observing, it seemed like a perfect choice so off to graduate school I went.

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I then attended the University of Texas at Austin where I received my Master of Science in Social Work. I was hired after graduation to be a Victim Services Counselor with a law enforcement agency. I spent over a decade responding directly to crime scenes to support survivors of all types of traumatic events and ultimately became a supervisor there. This is where I really found my passion for supporting those who had experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, childhood abuse, and death. In addition to my work with survivors, I got up close and personal with the impact this type of job can have on the first responders and helpers.

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Aside from supporting survivors of trauma, first responders and helping professionals I also hold a special interest in working with Autistic folks and/or their loved ones. I have had training and experience in this area, with my most fond being a respite care provider to an autistic teen during my time in graduate school.