My Story
In 1993 I started my journey in becoming a family therapist at Kansas State University. It is there that I found my passion for working with those who had been abused or traumatized. I firmly believe with help and hard work, one can move past the trauma and emerge healthier, stronger, and more hopeful. I started a partnership with HeadStart in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas where we conducted individual, couple and family therapy. I also conducted play therapy sessions with the children that were in need.
I continued my quest by pursuing and completing my Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy at Texas Tech University. It was there I honed my skills for working with people who have been traumatized and added addiction and recovery to my specialties. I worked at an alcohol and drug treatment center first as a Family Therapist and then as a full-time Addiction Counselor and family liaison.
My life took a detour when I got married to a man with three boys and moved to Arlington, TX. I opened my first private practice there. I also worked for an insurance company where I specialized in EAP and triage services. Specialties include military, both active duty and veterans, and first responders, trauma, adults that were sexually abused as children, depression, anxiety, couples and family work. During my Texas years I added two girls to the family and my in-laws for a time. We then moved in 2013 to Missouri where I have had a private practice since 2013. That is where I created Lifemend LLC and am happy to be practicing therapy.