I grew up in a small town in the northwest corner of Rhode Island, where I’ve spent most of my life. In 2010, I graduated with a BFA in Studio Art from Rhode Island College, concentrating in painting and printmaking. After graduation, I worked as a textile designer for many years, but found myself creatively blocked and struggling with a 9-5 desk job. During this time, I developed a new passion for holistic healing modalities, such as nutrition and alternative medicine. Ready for a big change, I decided I wanted to do something that involved my love of creating art and healing. A simple google search for “art and healing” led me to the website for Salve Regina University’s Holistic Clinical Mental Health program, which offered courses on the mind-body connection as well as expressive arts therapy. I had always had extremely positive personal experiences with counseling and felt inspired by the idea that I could learn to help people in the same way.

I completed my clinical internship on the Young Adult Partial Unit at Butler Hospital, an esteemed psychiatric hospital in Providence, RI. My training was eclectic, incorporating elements of CBT, DBT, ACT, motivational interviewing, behavior modification, and solution-focused therapy. My role involved providing one-on-one and group therapy for young people who struggled with a wide range of issues and symptoms. After graduating, I continued to work at the hospital as a program therapist until I moved to Austin at the beginning of 2022, where I work in private practice. I am still passionate about art, creativity, and wellness, as well as helping others to find their own purpose and inspiration.