About me

 

​I've been fascinated by the concept of giftedness and the gifted experience since age 7, when I was identified gifted and skipped most of second grade. In my work as an educator and psychologist, I've always been drawn to bright kids who wrestled with big feelings or big ambitions - or who were misunderstood by most of the adults and peers around them.  During graduate school, I began to research twice-exceptionality and I learned how often learning disabilities, autism, and ADHD are missed in gifted folks.  So it's fitting that it took me another 10 years to realize that I'm autistic as well!  

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My approach to therapy is very relational, collaborative, and informal.  People often seek help because of stress and difficulties. I attend to these experiences and provide concrete strategies.  At the same time, I am playful and down-to-earth.  With curiosity and compassion, I help clients re-connect with their strengths, resilience, humor, and hope.

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Education & training

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I earned my PhD in school psychology from the University of Texas at Austin with an emphasis in child therapy, and I earned an MA in developmental psychology from San Francisco State University. I have additional training in giftedness and twice-exceptionality; neurodiversity-affirming approaches to therapy, parenting, and education; supporting autistic and PDA kids and teens; evidence-based treatments for anxiety; collaborative/therapeutic assessment; and psychodynamic therapy with youth and families. Before graduate school, I was a K-12 teacher and educational trainer for over 10 years.

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Special interests

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• Giftedness and twice exceptionality, especially autistic, AuDHD and PDA profiles

• Neurodivergent-affirming therapy and parenting approaches

• PDA-informed parenting approaches

• Working with children and teens who are reluctant to begin therapy

• Supporting queer, non-binary, transgender, and other LGBTQ+ youth and families

• Helping parents feel calmer and more confident​