I am a mother and a wife, it has been a beautiful journey I have been able to experience. Watching my own children grow up has shown me the differences in approaching each one of them and how each one of them is unique in their own way. As parents, there is no one tool that works for every child, and I use this as a way to connect to youth in a way that meets them where they are.

My time in New York as a school counselor gave me opportunities to talk to our youth and be someone they could talk to and that would just listen to them. I saw how many needed to feel someone was on their side and could validate their feelings as they go through stages of development in adolescence and life struggles. There are so many big emotions and feelings they have, and they are not experienced that much in life, compared to adults, to truly process and understand what they are feeling inside. I work to help them navigate what they are experiencing to help them find more balance and self understanding.

My clinical experience includes supporting diverse populations through crisis services working at 988 for several years. Over the years, I have developed compassionate and supportive techniques and approaches that have successfully navigated individuals through difficult times. This has been something that helped me see how many young people needed someone to just listen to them, to let them be heard and seen in their struggles.

I have taken time to connect to my local community by working with families and youth. This helped encourage my passion to help those that needed a voice and to be understood. Communication is crucial to young people and in families and helping guide them to having more effective communication and listening skills can help change many dynamics in a family for the positive and can allow the youth to gain confidence and inner structure.