about

How I Got HERe

My love affair with words started in a Brooklyn apartment in the 1970s. I memorized Chicken Little after hearing it read to me so many times and would sometimes hold the book and pretend to be reading as I recited it from memory. So when my parents overheard two-year-old me talking alone in my bedroom and saw me with a book in my hand, they assumed that's what I was doing. But as they got closer they saw I was holding Bing Bang Pig--a book they never read to me before.

I wrote my first story when I was 5, some pretty cliche poetry in high school, and then I majored in English Literature in undergrad. I figured I'd end up teaching English in high school or college, but life took me in a different direction and I ended up becoming a social worker and eventually started a private practice as a therapist. Then, after two decades in that field, it was time to move on.

During that time, I all but abandoned my creative practice. Most writing I did was for work. My creativity was mostly poured into my business.

After closing my therapy practice, I floated in liminal space for a while. During this time, creativity was a life raft. I wrote a lot and cried a lot. I posted a ton of poetry on Instagram. I created an Etsy shop for poetry merch (which is currently closed). I created a workbook for people navigating hard times and liminal spaces.

While my writing practice is not consistent and I frequently struggle with motivation, focus, and energy, I know now that it is part of me forever. I am so grateful it returned to me (or I returned to it) and I will never let it go again.

work HISTORY

In a previous lifetime...

I was social worker for almost two decades. I held many roles throughout my career, but the majority of that time was spent as: school counselor/social worker in high schools; Dean of Students at East West College of the Healing Arts - a massage therapy training program; and therapist in private practice.

I also have a decade of teaching experience:

Faculty at East West College of the Healing Arts, Therapeutic Relationships course
Developed & taught continuing education course for LMTs called "The Ethics of Client-Centered Presence"
Adjunct Professor, Advisor, & Field Placement Liaison at Portland State University's School of Social Work

education & training

Write Like Anyone, Brand Voice Academy, 2023
Certified Life Cycle Celebrant-Healing & Transitions, Celebrant Foundation & Institute, 2022
Freelance Copywriting Kickstarter Course, The Creative Copywriter Academy, 2022
Hakomi Method of Somatic Psychotherapy, Mindful Experiential Therapy Approaches, LLC
The Re-Creation of the Self (R-CS) Model of Human Systems, Mindful Experiential Therapy Approaches, LLC
Experiential Attachment Psychotherapy, Mindful Experiential Therapy Approaches, LLC
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Oregon State Licensing Board, 2007

Master of Social Work, Portland State University, 2003

Bachelor of Arts, English Literature, Rutgers University, 1998

speaking & storytelling

2023: Broke Gravy: storytelling event
2019: Presenter at Portland State University’s School of Social Work Behavioral Health Integration Project Orientation: “The Ethics of Client-Centered Presence”
2019: Presenter at the American Massage Therapy Association Oregon Chapter’s Annual Convention: “Client-Centered Presence”
2019: The Moth: storytelling event
2019: Broke Gravy: storytelling event
2018: Dear Diary: storytelling event
2018: Mortified Portland: storytelling event
2018: Presenter at Providence ElderPlace Personal Care Attendant Summit: “Participant-Centered Presence”
2017: Keynote speaker at East West College of the Healing Arts graduation ceremony
2011-2016: Emcee for biannual graduation ceremonies at East West College of the Healing Arts
2008: Presenter at Oregon Charter School Conference: "LEP High School’s Student-Led Conference Model"

where you can find my writing

Much of my writing can be found chaotically scattered throughout various journals, untitled Google Docs, and the notes app on my phone. But here's where you can find the rest:

Substack

Published Poems:

Miscellaneous:

Instagram

Blog