I moved to WA from the Midwest in 2014. I originally started working in mental health and healthcare as a residential volunteer through a faith organization. This work centered on individuals with complex developmental, degenerative, and comorbid health and mental health conditions. Eventually, this became paid work as I paid rent through high school and my undergraduate degrees.
I have always been an artist, often selling works to help pay for life expenses. Art has always been a lifeline for its healing and creative expression for me. When I found Art Therapy, I knew this was the career for me. I had used art instinctively in my own healing and to support my roles as an in-home caregiver and residential treatment provider.
I graduated from NWMSU in 2013 with two degrees centered on crisis, mental health, and intercultural healing. I then attended MWSU for prerequisites for an Art Therapy graduate degree while continuing my career in residential treatment. After moving to WA for graduate school at Antioch University, I worked with chronic homelessness at a nonprofit and child welfare and protection with the State of WA.
After graduating from Antioch, I joined Abby White in her group practice, and together we launched the nonprofit Hope Development Practice (HDP). HDP is a community mental health agency that specializes in supporting Gender, Sex, and Relationally Diverse individuals and families. After working there for 5 years, I launched my gender care efforts into a solo private practice and began teaching at Antioch University.
I am working on building community support in the Columbia River area of Western WA and building a network and community of Queer safe and inclusive service arrays.