About Me:
I was a late bloomer and did not attend college until I was 26 years old, choosing to attend the University of Wyoming. As an undergraduate at the UWYO I was given the opportunity to become a McNair scholar where I did original research on trauma events and their impact on individual interpersonal behaviors. Simultaneously, I was studying Latino Studies as my minor where I was tasked with thinking critically about race, gender, and systems of marginalization. After completing my Bachelors of Science in Psychology I knew I wanted to be a clinician so I attended a masters level psychology program where I could learn empirically sound treatments. In a bout of serendipity, my clinical supervisor of training, at Cal State San Bernardino, received her PhD from the University of Wyoming, so she was the perfect person to help me continue my studies on trauma. Within the first two weeks I was able to provide counseling to students on campus who were in need of therapy. My first client experienced a traumatic loss and this was the first time I was able to use the intervention “imaginal exposure”. After seeing this client bounce back with impressive resilience I was hooked on grief and trauma focused work. In my second year I completed my internship with the Department of Behavioral Health in San Bernardino. Again I was struck by the progress clients could make by becoming fully vulnerable in session. Suddenly, covid-19 struck and the uncertainty of the world’s path led me and my partner to move to Colorado. I then began working the last year in residential treatment where I was fortunate enough to implement a pilot trauma program based on cognitive behavioral principles. After choosing to move organizations I committed to Diversus Health because I sensed the mission driven principles of those I talked to in my department. I am proud to be working for this unit and I look forward to helping many more clients heal from the chaos that life can bring.