I grew up in Monterey, California with a loving family of four: my sister, four years older and my parents, high school sweethearts. At 14, my father passed away suddenly from brain cancer, my sister left for college, and my Mom tried to pick up the broken pieces of herself. At 14, I learned to navigate life my own way, with little help, and using unhelpful coping mechanisms along the way. It’s been messy. It’s been painful. It’s felt unbearable, pointless, and not worth it. I’ve been there. I know many of us have been there. We don’t need to do this alone anymore. 

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In my mid-20s I discovered Occupational Therapy around the same time I received a name for the battles I struggled with daily: Borderline Personality Disorder. Learn more about my experience with BPD here. I obtained a masters degree in occupational therapy while simultaneously completing an intensive therapy program called Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. 

 

Occupational Therapy showed me that anyone can live a meaningful life, and as a professional in this field, it would be my job to focus on what people can do, not what they can’t do.  Learn more about OT here.

 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy taught me the skills I needed to manage, understand, and care for my own symptoms, reactions and stressors. These skills include mindfulness, interpersonal relationships, distress tolerance and emotional regulation. Learn more about DBT here. 

 

Years later, I completed a mental health occupational therapy fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Around this time, I was additionally diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder II, embraced sobriety, and began a medication regiment. Once again, a turning point in my professional career was mirrored by a turning point in my personal mental health journey. 

 

I have extensive experience treating physical, mental, and cognitive limitations across the lifespan. I have created multiple occupational therapy programs in both hospital and community settings. I have taught lectures, created assessments, and supervised OT students. 

 

Is it taboo that I’m talking about my own mental health while marketing my professional expertise? Maybe. Is it messy? Probably. Do I want to be polished? No. I want to be real. I tried to dig myself out of quick sand for far too long. I looked polished and clean while doing it. It was exhausting. I don’t believe that we need to hide our struggles and highlight our successes. I believe they go hand in hand. Focusing on only one or the other creates an imbalance. 

 

I’m *not* advocating normalizing complaining about our setbacks. I’m advocating talking about it, allowing ourselves to feel, and acknowledging that although we may have not caused this pain, it’s our responsibility to fix it. 

 

I’m advocating showing all sides of you. I’m advocating being okay with not being okay. I’m advocating shouting your successes from the rooftops. I’m advocating sharing the whole story, not just the pretty parts. 

 

I know the unique perspective I bring to the table. I value every piece of my story. I am candid, raw, and vulnerable. I am me. I want to show you that no matter how messy you think your life is, you’ve got this. I want to provide mental health services differently.

 

I won’t talk about me or my story unless you ask me to. The blogs are here, if you want them. I don’t need to re-hash my story to help you find yours. My story led me here, but the spotlight is on you now. So while my personal experience is interwoven throughout this page,  I’m here to serve you. 

 

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