Here is a little history, to help you get to know me. One of my passions in life has long been to serve and help others. When my college path led me to the door of the social work program advisor I knew I had found my lifelong career. At the time I attended Western Illinois University, where I majored in social work and graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. I then got a push to go attend graduate school and moved on to St. Ambrose University where I completed my Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. I have worked in a variety of settings since my graduation and entering the workforce such as in-home support and case management for youth involved in the justice system, as a therapist for girls housed in a residential treatment facility, and as an outpatient therapist serving the public for several years until opening Genuine Connections Therapy. 

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I shifted into providing services independently to be able to focus on the people I feel I connect with and do my best work with in my practice. I do my best work with people from pre-teen to older adults. 

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I find myself most drawn to work related to: 

• healing and processing traumatic experiences 

• managing ongoing mental health struggles with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, etc., 

• helping others cope through challenging relationships

• experiences of family relationship estrangement

• life transitions such as moving into adulthood from teen years or transitioning into retirement.

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My goal is to spend time truly getting to know you and building off this knowledge to be supportive and help you work toward goals that are meaningful to you.