Education. I received an MA Degree in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and have been actively engaged in the mental health field using art therapy and creativity in healing since 1998.  

Training. My experience is across the life-span, including trauma focused work in long term educational/ therapeutic settings as well as clinical behavioral mental health hospital settings.  I have experience implementing and supporting the development of art therapy programming in numerous mental health agencies around the twin cities and have expanded art therapies reach over the years to include creative and healing potentialities in areas of cognitive and developmental abilities, dementia and Alzheimer's care, oncology and school based SEL art therapy programming. Teaching, supervising and mentoring has been a part of my professional career, including a part of the development of the first accredited art therapy program in MN.  I have supervised and consulted with mental health and art therapy professionals supporting their professional development and identity journey. Currently, my scope has bridged outside of mental health by providing professional consultation, mental health and wellness support services to agencies and corporations who value employee creative health and sustainability.

Passions.  Include being in nature; hiking, biking, spending time on the lake, connecting with loved ones, coffee with friends, exploring the world, art and creative experiences.  I love baking pies, I make an awesome blueberry pie!  I enjoy using unexpected or non-traditional media and materials in my art practice in novel ways,  and am recently excited about 3D altered book arts and handmade paper! I love the fluid and often spontaneous, uncontrollable aspects of watercolor painting; this often mirrors life.  I find joy in learning new skills,  techniques, theories, and knowledge that support creativity and sparking the brain!

Commitment. To neuroscience-informed trauma community care, social justice and advocacy for re-indigenizing and empowering, supervision and training.  Holistic health and wellness and de-stigmatization of mental health; creativity as a human right.  I support agency and organizational health and well-being.