connecting branches counseling

About therapy: As a therapist, I specialize in helping others find meaning and purpose through the exploration of their held beliefs, emotions, and perspective on life. Assisting all clients from emerging adults (late high school and on) to post-retirement elders, I have a particular interest in points of transition, wherein one might be moving from one life stage to the next. Through a relaxed combination of reflection, humor, and a conversational approach, my goal is to help others navigate the exquisite complexities of life with the grace and fortitude they already possess. Additionally, as it becomes safer to meet in-person, Éowyn, my greyhound will be an option for including in-session, as we are both pursuing additional training in animal-assisted psychotherapy. About me: As some folks might find counseling an intimidating undertaking, I wanted to share just a little about me, so when we meet, it does not feel like you are sitting down in front of a stranger. If you were to describe me in a word, I think it would be what I have come to call a “Hobbitude,” that is a Hobbit’s attitude toward life as Tolkien beautifully summarizes: “In fact, it has been remarked by some that the Hobbits' only real passion is for food. A rather unfair observation, as we have also developed a keen interest in the brewing of ales, and the smoking of pipe-weed. But where our hearts truly lie is in peace and quiet, and good tilled earth. For all Hobbits share a love of things that grow.” Education National Certification in Massage Therapy, Boulder College of Massage Therapy (2009) B.A., Religion and Ethics, University of Puget Sound (2014) M.A., Counseling Psychology, Gonzaga University (2021) Ph.D., Leadership Studies, Gonzaga University (2025, expected) Hobbies Anything that sparks curiosity, including: baking, beer, books, carpentry, climbing trees, conversation, dogs, food, forests, hiking, kayaking, pipes, pottery, TED Talks, wine Place A Midwesterner through and through, I grew up on the prairies of Illinois in the college town of Champaign-Urbana (Go Illini!). The baby of the family and the only boy, I was blessed to have the guidance of my parents and three older sisters to keep my wandering mind on a (mostly) focused path. My life growing up was filled with lightning bugs, euchre, cribbage, and humidity. At 21 I moved to Boulder, CO to study massage therapy, which is also where I fell in love with learning. My educational journey has since taken me to Prescott, AZ, Tacoma, WA, and now Spokane, WA where I am pursuing my Ph.D., researching meaning, purpose, and emotion as it pertains to human ontology. Ideas that Inspire Me “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” ― Dalai Lama “Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” ― Groucho Marx “Supposing a tree fell down, Pooh, when we were underneath it?' 'Supposing it didn't,' said Pooh after careful thought. Piglet was comforted by this.” ― A.A. Milne “I believe in kindness. I also believe in mischief.” ― Mary Oliver “The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.” ― Terry Pratchett “When we love a person, we accept him or her exactly as is: the lovely with the unlovely, the strong with the fearful, the true mixed in with the façade, and of course, the only way we can do it is by accepting ourselves that way.” ― Mr. Rogers “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” ― Dr. Seuss "I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." — J.R.R. Tolkien