Providers & Staff

 As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist, I certainly understand that many of us endure difficult events throughout life, some of which may be traumatic. As a result, you may find yourself struggling with emotional difficulties, faltering to find your way out.

As a therapist, my goal to is to assist my clients in understanding the life events that they have endured and how those events may contribute to emotional difficulties, as well as resilience. I seek to challenge my clients to look at themselves and situations they have experienced from a different perspective, to dig deeper into the root causes of their struggles and guide them towards healing. I seek to help them understand that when struggles are released, they are allowing themselves a second chance. This is a chance to cultivate rooted resilience, transcend their misfortunes or trauma, connect with their inherent right to thrive and create something more beautiful.

Currently, I treat adolescents and adults (ages 16+).  I value my clients and seek to create a nonjudgmental, open and trustworthy atmosphere regardless of your gender identity, sexual preference, lifestyle choices, religion, cultural background or race. My sessions are interactive and focused on your needs, allowing you to identify your goals while we work together to attain them.

I received my Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of North Dakota. I have been practicing as a therapist in an outpatient setting since 2017 and previously provided services to children and families in the areas of medical social work and child welfare for seven years. I have received training in a variety of supportive therapeutic modalities and continue to build upon my knowledge by engaging in ongoing training to receive the most up to date research regarding evidence-based practice techniques to best serve the needs of my clients. My specific area of interest being is exploring and helping clients heal from trauma. I use an integrative model while working with clients, pulling from several evidence based therapy techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization and Reprocessing), Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems parts work. I also integrate my knowledge and training in these various models during one on one as well as group supervision with all of the Level Up MHC staff. I am experienced at providing therapy services to individuals with a variety of challenges including adjustment concerns related to life transitions and other various stressors, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, grief and loss, self-harming behavior and concerns related to various types of abuse.

 As a Clinical Social Worker, my goal is to provide clients with a safe and supportive environment for healing while helping them understand themselves within the context of their own lives. This includes guiding them to explore the question of "What happened to me?" rather than solely focusing on "What is wrong with me?" By understanding their responses to difficult experiences, we can make sense of their place in the world and nurture personal growth.

For more than ten years, I have provided trauma-focused clinical services to both individuals and groups in various settings. My expertise encompasses supporting youth and adults grappling with mental health challenges, chemical dependency, developmental disabilities, and trauma. During a significant part of my career, I dedicated six years to serving young survivors of domestic violence and childhood abuse, establishing a profound connection with this population. Through this experience, I have developed specialized skills to assist clients in enhancing their resilience and healing from these traumas. Over the past five years, I have served as a School-Based Mental Health Professional, offering support to students in a K-12 rural school setting.

I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology at Concordia College and then pursued my social work degrees at the University of North Dakota, graduating in 2011. I hold a Master of Social Work degree and am a fully licensed mental health therapist as an LCSW in the state of ND and as an LICSW in the state of MN.

Within my practice, I have received training in and utilize a variety of trauma-informed interventions, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT). These therapeutic approaches allow me to provide specialized care to individuals impacted by trauma. Currently, I work with clients aged 10 and above, tailoring my support to their specific needs.