Hello there,
I’m honored you’re here and want me to play a part in your journey. As a trafficking survivor and person living with dissociative identity disorder (DID), and as a licensed psychologist, I know firsthand the vulnerability, the stigmas and the uphill challenges many of you face because I’ve lived it.
I am a passionate advocate for mental health and destigmatizing the beliefs about mental health diagnoses. That’s why I’m coming forward and sharing my story after working for nearly two decades in the mental health field. While my journey appears to be a complicated clinical picture, behind it lies a great deal of strength, tenacity, love and hope, which I want to help you and your communities experience too!
“There is no health without mental health”.
I used to be afraid of people knowing my story and my childhood history. Now I know it’s yet one more way for me to turn my pain into purpose and bring a level of compassion that is often missing in practice and in community and business settings.
I’m here to challenge the stigmas of mental health.
I can speak to and write about many facets of the human experience such as boundaries, self-compassion, healing, recovery, trauma, dissociation, mental health related conditions, grief, loss, life transitions, communication, resources, resiliency, and business. I work with individuals, groups, organizations, businesses, private practices, therapists, and recovery centers in a variety of ways and I am sought out to serve as an inspirational speaker, consultant, podcast guest, guest blogger, and writer.
No more minimizing people’s experiences!
Let’s change the narrative together!
I believe in all of us!
-
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
BA, New England College
MA, Columbia University
MA, Arizona School of Professional Psychology
Psy.D., Arizona School of Professional Psychology
PRE-DOCTORAL INTERNSHIP
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Huntington VA Medical Center
Huntington, WV
POSTDOCTORAL RESIDENCY
Psychological Counseling Services, Ltd (PCS)
Scottsdale, AZCREDENTIALS
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
EXPERT CONSULTANT
TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE
CERTIFIED EMDR THERAPIST
EMDRIA APPROVED CONSULTANT
FOUNDER OF ALTERCHOLOGY®PROFESSIONAL AFFILLIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
2023 President of Scottsdale Psychological Society (SPS)
2021-2022 President-ElectLeader, The Stability Network (TSN)
Participant in McLean Hospital-Harvard Medical School Affiliate’s Deconstructing Stigma Campaign: Changing Attitudes About Mental Health
Keynote Speaker for An Infinite Mind (AIM) International Organization on DID
Member of BadAssDOGOODERS:
A League of Heart-Driven Entrepreneurs. Creators & Changemakers On A Mission To Impact our Communities, The World & Each Other.American Woman Beauty Brand Ambassador
Mom Army Solider of Love
Renegade Rising Brand Ambassador: Women rising above and living a life of change, impact, and purpose.
“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.”
-Brené Brown
Authentic • Resilient
***Please note a small error in this recording. There is an estimated 1-3% of the population suspected to live with DID, not 1 in 3.
Survivor • Genuine
“Experiencing trauma does not define you. At your core is your true essence and I hope you find your way back to the loving spark of light within you.”
My GOAL
As a trauma survivor, a person living with dissociative identity disorder (DID) and a licensed psychologist, I want to break the chains of misunderstanding and promote acceptance and healing for those with lived experiences with mental health and trauma. And, I want to help others understand it and connect with others who need support.
I am proof there is hope, and I want to release more of it into the world.
