Every human being experiences anxiety, sadness, shame, fear, loneliness, embarrassment, anger. Sometimes at unhelpful levels. I help children, teens, and young adults normalize and approach these emotions by providing a space to process internal experiences (thoughts, memories, images) that result in these emotional states, how they show up in our bodies, and how we choose to react or respond to these thoughts/sensations/urges in a meaningful, values-driven way. This therapy approach is based in ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, pronounced like the word act). An ACT approach helps to mindfully notice what shows up in the brain and/or the body, how to approach these experiences in a helpful way, and to choose to do the thing that’s hard in service of our values. Emphasizing choice is imperative in approaching work with children and teens. If they can identify how they can choose to move forward in their lives with the tough stuff along for the ride, that’s when real change happens. I received my BA from UW-Madison and my PhD in school psychology from Penn State. I worked in the schools outside of Portland, Oregon for 3 years and grew a deep appreciation for the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. I completed 2 postdoctoral residencies specializing in school psychology, comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations, and individual psychotherapy with CBT/ACT approaches. I am currently a Licensed Clinical Child Psychologist who works with children, teens, young adults who are experiencing significant life stressors, difficulty adjusting to these stressors, and unhelpful levels of anxiety or depression. I specialize in sports psychology approaches with student athletes, including improving performance, mindfulness skills, and recovery from injury. I spend my free time being active through biking, paddleboarding, gardening, weight lifting, yoga, boxing, and taking my dog and kid on hikes and walks with my partner.