Since I was younger, I have enjoyed hearing people’s stories and experiences, helping people where I can, and being a supportive presence when it’s needed. After one of my children received devastating medical news as an infant and my close friend cried with me and stated, “I don’t know how to help you through this”, I realized that someone showing support through grief is a unique and much needed experience. As I learned to cope and adapt to the changes in my family life, I learned how grateful I was to have specialists and trusted individuals to help me see my way through the fog of my emotions. I received a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work with a specialization in health/behavioral health and an emphasis on children and adolescents and have a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Dance. I am Foundationally trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Radically Open DBT and have previously worked with adolescents ages 12-17 with mental health and a substance use diagnosis in a residential setting, as well as a case manager and program coordinator within foster care and adoption. I have also worked as a counselor for domestic violence and sexual assault victims. My clinical focus has been on grief, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidality, substance use, trauma, and family difficulties.