With an origin story as a babysitter throughout my teen and young adult years, working closely with people, particularly the littles, has been my life’s work.
I was raised in Anchorage in the friendly Government Hill neighborhood, then finished out my childhood in the wilds of South Anchorage, where I wandered the woods looking for natural treasures: wasp’s nests, rocks, dead critters, pet bugs… you name it. These early experiences have shaped who I am as a therapist.
I aim to help kids get more comfortable in their skin through sensorimotor integration, self awareness, community connections and a relationship with the natural world.
As an OT with 23 years of experience, I have worked with people of all ages and stages of life, starting with people at the end of their life, then moving on to early intervention in Palmer, Alaska, in 2001. Working with babies has helped me understand the nuances of development starting in utero and maternal health, the baby’s experiences at birth, and the crucial benefits of a calm, nurturing, well-informed first few months of life. Therapeutic support during the baby and toddler years can curb a whole host of issues for later childhood. One of my specialties is helping babies’ and mama’s bodies recover after stressful birth experiences and helping them with nursing and/or bottle-feeding.
I opened up my first pediatric practice, Mountain Magic Therapy for Kids, in 2004 in order to serve children and families of all ages. We specialized in traditional sensory integration treatment with a heavy emphasis on parental education. I started integrating Craniosacral therapy into my feeding and play sessions in 2002 and with older kids and adults on my treatment table. This touch-based therapy has been instrumental in calming the nervous system, easing the pains, and enhancing the function of hundreds of babies, children, and adults in my care.
In my free time, I love to be with my family exploring the woods for wonders, beauty, food, and nature’s medicines. I love watching my own boys grow into their own people. I enjoy all arts and crafts unless it gets techy.
Michigan has been my other home, where I spent summers with my grandparents, then attended high school in Ann Arbor and college at Western Michigan University, where I got my OT degree. I’ve lived for shorter stints in Zimbabwe, Oregon, and Hawaii, and love traveling.
