I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. At 16 I started volunteering on a crisis helpline for teens, and ever since then, I've focused my energy on finding ways to help people cope with the difficulties in their lives. 

After graduating from the University of Washington with a B.S. in neurobiology and psychology, I returned to the UW to get my PhD in Clinical Psychology. 

My research focus was on the processes underlying emotion regulation in adolescents and young adults. Clinically, I have completed extensive training in evidence-based behavioral treatments for depression and anxiety disorders such as cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), behavioral activation (BA), and exposure and response prevention (ERP). I have also worked extensively with families of youth with behavioral problems, primarily using parent coaching approaches such as Parent Management Training (PMT). 

I completed my pre-doctoral internship at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. There I worked with children and adults in inpatient and intensive outpatient hospital settings. I received additional training in the application of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with teens and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with adults. 

Since having a child of my own, I have developed an interest in applying my training to working with new and expecting parents. I have completed specialized training in working with the perinatal population and continue to pursue advanced training in order to deliver sensitive and appropriate care for this unique population. 

I live in Ballard with my husband, daughter, and our two cats Thor and Loki.