About

My background is eclectic but, when you look close, it is all variations on a theme. The theme is understanding the human experience.

I am a classically-trained human subjects researcher. I hold a Master’s of Science in Experimental Psychology. I have designed and managed research projects on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), the physiological effects of cumulative trauma, patient-reported outcomes, and Epilepsy. 

I love my strong science foundation, but understanding is only as useful as our willingness to apply that understanding in the form of service. This sentiment led me to accept positions as a professional Victim Advocate and, later, a Mental Health Therapist. My brief stints in these roles were incredibly rewarding and profoundly illuminating.  Whether I was accompanying crime victims to court and speaking on their behalf, attending to the mental health of individuals serving time in jail, holding space for patients participating in medical research, or supporting whole families as they navigated complex legal, medical, and interpersonal challenges, I always endeavored to listen well and amplify voices.   

I always wanted to support people in their healing. But, after working with people in so many different settings, I could not help but notice people, and I, could really benefit from moving through the process…literally, moving! It is well-established by thinkers like Bessel van der Kolk and Peter Levine that stress stores in the body if not discharged through movement. I knew I needed to find a way to support people that was more somatic in nature.

It just so happens I have been doing yoga, with varying degrees of dedication, for over 20 years! Yoga has always been the key when it comes to my own healing. As I immersed myself in the study of the philosophy and technical elements of the practice, I realized it is the modality within the scope of which I feel I can best hold space for others.

But how does music fit into all of this? Well, I truly believe one cannot have a complete understanding of the human experience without regarding it in the context of art. Art, specifically music, is a vehicle for self-expression. Self-expression, via use of the voice, in the spirit of both creativity and advocacy, begins deep in the body. It is an essential contributor to feelings of empowerment, personal agency, and connection. Without self-expression via the voice and body, feelings of empowerment, personal agency, and connection are diminished. When these elements are diminished, our mental health suffers. 

My background in music began when I was just a child. I sang and played instruments into my twenties, and even recorded a full-length album of original music. But injury and trauma derailed my pursuit of music and, with it, much of my capacity for self-expression. For ten years, I lived a life fraught with feelings of disempowerment, a lack of personal agency, and disconnection. This took a serious toll on my mental health. Knowing all this, first-hand, is what inspired me to develop offerings that integrate trauma-informed practices with movement and use of the vocal mechanism. 

Thank you for taking some time to learn about me, my journey, and how I have come to offer what I do. 

If you have any questions, or would like to initiate a conversation, please do not hesitate to reach out. I hope I get the chance to speak with you!