Complex Trauma & Grief Therapist | Relational & Somatic Focus

I’m a licensed professional counselor based in Austin, Texas, specializing in grief and loss, complex trauma, and the unique experiences of adults of adoption. Since 2011, I’ve walked alongside clients on their healing journeys, offering a compassionate space where all emotions are welcome, and every story matters.

Why I Do This Work

I believe that healing is an act of courage. Grief and trauma can leave us feeling lost, carving out spaces of deep loneliness and pain. Yet, even in this chaos, there is a quiet resilience waiting to be heard.

I’ve walked those dark roads myself. I’ve learned that healing isn’t about erasing pain but learning to carry it. It’s about meeting ourselves fully—our anger, sorrow, helplessness, and fear—and offering them compassion. We all need a place where we can explore without getting overwhelmed or lost.

Healing is about reclaiming yourself and learning to live fully in the present. I chose the Dive Swallow as a symbol for my practice because it represents a return to home. I’m here to walk that path with you.

Our Work Together

Clients describe me as warm, authentic, and genuinely curious about their world. I balance empathy with direction, offering a transparent and collaborative therapeutic relationship.

My approach is relational and somatic, meaning we’ll focus not just on your thoughts but on your emotions, body sensations, and the way you relate to yourself and others. I’ll bear witness to your life – honoring the complex experiences that have lead you here and help you find meaning and healing.

Relational work is about the healing power of connection. Our therapeutic relationship becomes a safe space to explore patterns in how you connect, trust, and feel understood. It’s through this genuine connection that deeper healing and growth can occur.

Somatic therapy involves paying attention to the body’s experiences. Trauma and grief aren’t just held in our minds—they live in our bodies, influencing how we feel and react. I’ll be there to support you as you learn to navigate noticing sensations, tension, and breath. This creates a path to release stored pain and restore a sense of safety and presence. After all, emotions aren’t enemies; they’re information packets guiding us through life. They’re just a bit loud at times.

My Credentials and Experience

I have a Master’s in Counseling from St. Edward’s University and launched my private practice in 2011. I have worked as a Grief Therapist for The Austin Center for Grief and Loss (then My Healing Place) and a PRN for a dual-diagnosis long-term care facility. In 2019, I founded Resilience Austin, a group practice dedicated to providing high-quality, transformative therapy.

I am a certified NARM therapist and trained in Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), Attachment, and Gottman.

I am also a board-approved supervisor, supporting LPC Associates since 2016, and a educator and advocate focusing on adoption and grief.

Click here to view my full curriculum vitae

Beyond the Therapy Room

I grew up in creative communities on the West Coast of California and in the Great Lakes area of Ontario, Canada, before making Austin my home over 25 years ago. My path to becoming a therapist wasn’t linear—I’ve been a Creative Director, a corporate consultant, a small business owner, and a photographer. My creative spirit is still very much alive through my love of acting, design, and photography.

I believe I learned the most about love, living a life of joy, and healing from my dog Gus. Good Boy Gus.

gus

I look forward to working with you and discovering who you were meant to be. You are not broken.