My motivation to help people has been the driving force to my career in social work, and connecting with people tends to come very natural for me. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with educational training that has earned me a Doctorate of Behavioral Health and a Masters in Social Work. Though my educational background has offered strong knowledge to work with individuals with a wide-range of needs, I believe that my own lived-experiences and insight has helped propel my ability to be relatable, compassionate, understanding, and free of judgement.

​

Fueled by passion and a strong clinical background to help others overcome current or life adversities, I have humbly served the community of Kaua'i over the last 18 years in various capacities. 8 of those years was working with the local non-profit agency, Child & Family Service, as Clinical Supervisor to the island's youth Crisis Mobile Outreach program and as Program Director to the Domestic Violence Services program. I have also held the role of instructor for the School of Social Work at the University of Hawai'i, however my primary scope of practice is providing therapy to individuals and families who seek mental and behavioral health support, with a specialty in trauma.  

 

I lean into the process of therapy with a strong trauma-informed approach and I offer support to a variety of issues that often stem from early childhood trauma, attachment disruption, and/or relational issues such as domestic abuse. I also offer skills-training and guidance to parents to break parenting cycles by understanding how intergenerational patterns are often repeated and reinforced in our own parenting styles. 

​

Personally, I am a proud mother of two young-adults who were raised on Kaua'i, a cat and dog mom, and more recently now a grandmother. In my effort to stay recharged, I enjoy spending time with my family, being outside hiking, beaching, reading a good book, and sewing cute things (you may also see me randomly at pop-ups!).

​

​