Many of my clients come in feeling like they have been merely surviving life, yet they long to experience living more fully. Sometimes loss, tragedy, or simply challenging life circumstances bring that longing more sharply into view. Together we can explore how to meet this longing from a strengths-based approach. Often this means adjusting outgrown relational patterns to fit present goals.

Since moving to Seattle in 2004, I worked as a pediatric and adult hospice social worker before returning to private practice. Throughout my clinical work over the last three decades, I’ve been blessed to work with clients from richly varied life experiences. What inspires me most as I reflect on my work is our innate capacity to turn suffering into growth. As we gently strengthen the ability and confidence to meet suffering wisely and with compassion, we naturally begin to align with our deepest values.

Prior to my move to Seattle, I worked as a therapist in many different capacities: agency and hospital work, addictions treatment, as a mental health provider on a Native American pueblo and as a consultant for Albuquerque Public Schools. I also maintained a busy private practice.

My approach is collaborative, non-judgmental, respectful and compassionate. I’ve interwoven mindfulness-based therapy into my work for the past twenty nine years, long before it was as main stream as it is now. Though our center welcomes those with a secular interest in mindfulness, I also enjoy working with committed Buddhist practitioners to explore and integrate Buddhist teachings into our work together.

Over the last several years at the Seattle Mindfulness Center,  we have shifted our mission to include racial and social justice work, which we study and apply individually and collectively. I am incredibly grateful to practice with such a committed, experienced, diverse, and talented group of practitioners. I am also regularly blessed to learn from my clients who have richly varied life experiences and orientations.

In my spare time I love exploring the beautiful Northwest, attending meditation retreats, writing, studying, reading, gardening – especially growing dinner – and cooking with friends and family.