1) What is your current occupation?
I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. I maintain a small trauma-focused private practice where I use research supported therapeutic approaches.
2) Where were you educated?
I received my PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oregon.
3) Why did you choose this field?
I am passionate about using my knowledge and experiences to help others experience more vitality and realize their full potential.
4) What is most rewarding about this work for you?
The privilege of walking alongside courageous survivors during their recovery is the most rewarding aspect of my clinical work. I love helping my clients to discover strengths and abilities they never knew they had. The most rewarding aspect of my research is knowing that it will play a role in supporting trauma survivors’ recovery.
5) What is most frustrating about your work?
The lag time between conducting research and disseminating it to the public so that it can actually impact people’s lives.
6) How do you keep your life in balance (e.g., what are your hobbies)?
I create boundaries between my personal and professional lives. I am intentional about taking the time to laugh, play, and feed all parts of me. There is more to me than being a psychologist. A consistent self-care regimen and mindfulness meditation have played huge roles in bringing balance to my life.
7) What are your future plans?
I plan to explore how I can use technology and social media as a vehicle for giving psychology away. APA President Jessica Henderson Daniel’s Citizen Psychologist initiative resonates with me. I want to be a part of this movement by applying psychological science to address mental health issues that threaten well-being in the communities I belong to.
