I found my way to working in the field of psychology, not because I was so well put together, but because I encountered a time when things seemed to be falling apart. That time came in my early 20’s, and prompted me to initiate counseling for the first time. Through the process, I gained new insights and worked through some early experiences that were at the root of my difficulties. I became more resilient and soon turned the trajectory of my life toward a more positive and fulfilling direction.

That early time of crisis turned out to be one of the biggest blessings in my life, although it certainly didn’t feel that way at the time. It was during that turbulent time that I came to understand just how powerful psychotherapy can be. This experience also deepened my desire to continue in the field of psychology and become a therapist myself. At a time when so many other things were uncertain, I was calm and clear about this decision. This was the point in my life when my career path became aligned with what many call the soul path. I have always been grateful for how that difficult period of time helped to steer me in the right direction so early in my adult life.

My professional path followed the well-established route recommended for psychologists. It proved to be an excellent training ground for me and provided a strong foundation for the years of work that have followed. I completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling. I also worked fulltime between and after those training programs in order to gain vital clinical experience. I then pursued a PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University of Oklahoma where I encountered a wide variety of rich clinical and cultural experiences. I became licensed as a psychologist in 1996, and have been working in various clinical settings since completing my master’s degree.