I am an experienced outpatient pediatric occupational therapist with a passion for collaborating with caregivers and being part of their "team" to support their child. I understand the value that caregivers provide when they share their expertise and insights about their child, and I know that progress toward therapeutic goals happens most effectively and sustainably when we work together. From a treatment perspective, I am focused on taking a strengths-based, evidence-driven approach to supporting my therapeutic outcomes. What really drew me to Kinspire was the opportunity the model provided to be integrated into families' lives not just one hour a week, but the other 167 hours of the week as well.

I graduated with my master’s degree in occupational therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina and have worked almost exclusively in pediatric mental health and outpatient pediatric therapy settings. I am a passionate and avid learner, and I hold an advanced-level practitioner certification in DIR Floortime, am a STAR Institute Advanced Mentored Clinician in Sensory Processing Disorder, am certified in the Sensory Integration series through the Spiral Foundation, hold a certification in the Ayres’ Sensory Integration Theory, Assessment, and Treatment program through the University of Southern California, and I have completed the Infant-Parent Mental Health Specialist Fellowship Program through UC Davis. I also have a variety of training and experience in the following areas: Integrated Listening Systems, trauma-informed care, bowel/bladder difficulties, sensory processing, and social-emotional development.

I live in one of my favorite cities in the world (Chicago), and I enjoy good coffee, travel, family time, and snuggling with my pugs, Cheez Whiz and Sloppy Joe.

How would you describe your approach to working with families?

We are a team. You are the expert on your child, and I am just a partner that accompanies you on your journey. It's an honor to do this work in supporting families, and a responsibility I do not take lightly. I try to make sure I keep you informed and part of the process the whole way...you know your child best!

What is one of your favorite wins when working with a family using the Kinspire model?

So many come to mind! Of course I love when I hear wins for the kids along their therapy journey, like fewer or no meltdowns, no more toileting accidents, independence in more of their self-care routines, etc. Those are wonderful moments too! But my absolute favorite wins are when the parent feels the "win" for themselves. I love hearing parents feeling more confident—that they feel like they understand their child's needs now and feel equipped with the skills to support those needs. I also love hearing when parents notice that their relationship with their child has improved significantly, and they have "fallen in love" with their child again. Moments like these are what fuel my passion for this work.