Intake Role
Part of my role is to help you take the first steps towards accessing care. I have spent my entire life striving to create safe spaces, meeting people with compassion and a drive to change how we connect to each other. My goal is to provide you with a welcomed opportunity to share more about yourself, your goals and connect you with a therapist that closely aligns with your values and priorities. I understand compatibility is essential to developing a safe and effective therapeutic relationship and I will work with you to determine which of our therapists at Phoenix Center may be best suited for you. When we experience a trauma, we can often lose our autonomy, so while I may make therapist suggestions, I want to empower you to make selections based on who you believe will be the best fit for you.
Most of my work has been with direct service, anti-violence and anti-oppression organizations, which has contributed towards my drive of ensuring clients feel safe, seen and heard. As a member of the queer and trans community, I am a fierce advocate for inclusion and strive to create a space where all feel welcomed and valued for existing as their authentic self. I look for ways to purposely and actively change systems to be inclusive and trauma informed. Aside from phone intake calls, I offer video intake appointments, and you can connect with me through text (scheduling only), email, or our online booking platform here: https://phoenixtraumacenter.clientsecure.me/
Community Engagement
The other aspect of my role at the Phoenix Center is to engage with our clients and the community. I do this through outreach, networking, social media, newsletters, and workshops. Whether we cross each other in the lobby, communicate through Facebook, or meet at an event, I love to hear about how we are doing, ways we can improve our clients’ experiences, and learn about additional outside resources that could further support our clients.
I strive to ensure our marketing is aligned with our values, is trauma-informed, and represents the diversity of our clients. Creating a space (whether physical or virtual) that feels safe and welcoming is my highest priority.
Whether you are a client, a community member, a website visitor, or a partnering provider, I invite you to reach out to me – let me know how we are doing and if there are ways we could improve your experience.
Continuing Education
Outside of my role, I also love designing and facilitating trainings and workshops. My love of teaching started during college, where I was a Sociology tutor, and has developed throughout my career as my interests grew deeper and wider. I have over a decade of experience designing and facilitating training programs for both large and small organizations. Some of my past training topics include: Trauma-Informed Care, Supporting LGBTQIA+ Clients (specifically Gender Affirming Care), Sexual Violence, Mandatory Reporting, Ethics and Values, Capacity & Competency, Aging-Related Care, and Caregiving.
Adult learning and continuing education have been embedded in my professional career and have always been my favorite aspect of any role I have held. As someone who struggles with reading comprehension, but thrives with hands on learning, I strive to incorporate various learning techniques in my workshops and prioritize practice-based learning. Knowing that some of the most valuable opportunities for learning arise from first-hand experience, I find that all of us have valuable information to share and knowledge doesn’t just come from formal education.
Outside of Work
Outside of my work, I can often be found immersed in the world of pottery, a hobby I fell into later in life, which has been an important source of healing and joy. I also love to cook, bake, coach softball, and spend time with my family. Having gone through an untraditional path toward long-term sobriety, I enjoy connecting with clients who are also navigating unique roads of self-discovery and recovery.
