When I think about what brought me to this work, why I have been doing it almost twenty years, and why I continue, I often get an image of the farm I used to have and an image of these old Appalachian hills. I see our trees that coat these mountains, the honey locust, maples, conifers, and soaring poplar. I see the sea of rhododendron and laurel we tunnel through to make our trails. I see galax, lichen, moss, and legions of wildflowers. I see shy, scurrying chipmunks and our wonderful, lumbering black bears.

I think about how we’ve lost so much of what was originally here, and then I’m lose-my-breath grateful for all the voices that spoke up long ago to protect land, water, wildness. And I’m grateful for the continued round of voices that speak up for the penetrating beauty we have.

How does that relate to being a therapist? It’s the recognition of how easy it is to lose what’s most important to us, to lose identity, to lose our way. How easy it is to give ourselves over to external and internal demands that might be well-meaning, might not. Regardless, they don’t recognize what we truly need to be healthy and fulfilled.

Those images of the farm and these old hills convey the stunning mix of life that happens on a farm and in the wild, and how it all works so well together when it is healthy. The myriad forms that rely on one another to create a collective that moves as one.

I see that wild, workable mix as what’s inherent within us humans, too. Within each of us as individuals, within our families, our societies, and within the interplay of societies. I see where we’ve lost that inherent mix in so many ways and I see the inevitable distress that results. I have experienced that loss in my own life and I’ve gone through the steps to re-find self, to re-find health.

That’s why I do this work. I know the pain and debilitation of mental-emotional-spiritual-physical turmoil and loss. I know what it feels like and looks like. I now know what health looks like, a healthy wildness. And I’ve learned the path between. I would love to help you claim that path, too. 

For your joy and for the joy of all those you touch. Heal one, Heal the collective.

RUBBER-TO-THE-PAVEMENT

The formal pieces that allow me to do this work are a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Furman University. Go FU!! A Master of Social Work, clinical track, from University of Georgia, and being licensed as a clinical social worker, currently in North Carolina (C008994) and New Hampshire (4914).

My work experience has been a tremendous gift. I’ve worked with different ages (young children, teens, adults), with different concerns, with folks who have had different means, and different resources (internal and external).

Working with a wide array of folks for an extended time has been enormous in helping me understand how we humans function, what we need, what we want, what helps us, and what gets in our way. I’ve been in the field almost twenty years, spending a chunk of time in private practice and a chunk of time in community mental health (e.g., clinics, group home, hospitals, and schools). I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and I’m happy to share what works!

When not working as a therapist, I worked in the arts (visual and written) and in the health food industry (including farming). Yay on those experiences!! They, along with my continuing education, figure huge in helping me do this work and feel good about what I have to offer.

Apart from working, I’m often in the woods. (Surprise!) I’m also often learning about and writing poetry, reading all manner of things, doing what I can to be a loving friend and family member to all species, and making art along the way.

I would love to find out what touches your heart, or what used to, so you can find connection again.

For Who I Help and How, click here.

To find out why I named this mental health practice after a farm, click here!

If you like, please take a deep dive into my learning experiences here.

And please be in touch to ask questions and let’s talk about what you need and want!