My Story

I am a psychotherapist, consultant, implementation scientist, evaluator, and activist. 

I started my professional life as an anthropologist. After getting my master’s degree I did fieldwork in the Amazon Basin and soon realized the career wasn’t for me. My professional introduction to psychology happened at Princeton University while working as a research assistant under a renowned social psychologist. With her incredible team I co-designed an adolescent bullying prevention initiative that we successfully implemented across the state of New Jersey. By far my favorite part of the job was interacting directly with the kids and hearing their stories. I decided to switch careers to psychology.

 I took foundational psychology courses at the University of Pennsylvania while employed as a research coordinator at the Aaron T. Beck Psychopathology Research Center (since renamed the Penn Center for the Prevention of Suicide). It was there, spending over two years walking into inpatient units to talk with people who had recently attempted suicide, that I found the power of human connection to shine a light on the darkest moments of life. It was also at UPenn that I first learned of community psychology and implementation science, fields both dedicated to using social science and systems science to help communities and organizations improve their services through partnership and thoughtful planning.

My PhD is in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of South Carolina. This unique program emphasized seeing the big picture: the interaction between individuals, families, communities, and society. While completing my PhD I trained rigorously in psychotherapy and assessment, working at inpatient substance rehabilitation facilities, infectious disease clinics, community mental health centers, and medical units. I completed my predoctoral internship residency at the Durham VA Medical Center with rotations in behavioral medicine, integrated primary care, older adult services, post-deployment adjustment, and general mental health. Throughout my clinical training I completed numerous trainings and received supervision in interventions for PTSD, insomnia, pain, chronic illness, anxiety, suicide prevention, among others. My clinical specialty is the intersection of trauma, emotional intensity (such as anxiety and interpersonal problems), and health. I also have a growing professional and personal interest in climate adaptation and resilience. 

My dual degree also prepared me to support healthcare organizations and community agencies as a community psychologist and implementation practitioner. In my research and consultation I use the principles of organizational change and evaluation to improve healthcare and social services to prioritize health equity and implement best practices. You can see some of my publications on these topics here.

Outside of clinical practice I am a health services researcher and implementation methodologist with the Department of Veterans Affairs. I conduct research, evaluations, and quality improvement projects in VA hospitals across the country. In both my personal and professional life I feel strongly about addressing inequities, leading with an anti-oppressive stance, and advocating for social justice. 

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I am originally from the Midwest. I now live outside Raleigh with my partner, daughter, and a couple of backyard chickens.