Professional Journey

I earned my Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University after completing my bachelor's degree in Business and Marketing from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities.

Although I originally set out to pursue psychology, my career first led me into the business side of the music industry before I found my way back to the work that felt most meaningful.

During my clinical training at a YMCA family health center, I worked with adults navigating trauma, psychosis, OCD, anxiety, grief, and relationship challenges, while also supporting neurodivergent children through a YMCA summer program.

Following graduate school, I joined a trauma-focused group practice specializing in narcissistic abuse recovery, complex trauma (C-PTSD), and military populations, where I completed advanced training in EMDR.

I later stepped into clinical leadership roles, presented on Internal Family Systems (IFS), and developed Shadow Integration workshops in collaboration with other wellness professionals.

Creating Illuminate Within was the natural next step in my journey to build a practice that reflects my philosophy of evolving. One that integrates trauma-informed care, neuroscience, depth psychology, and evidence-based approaches while remaining open to the deeper questions of identity, meaning, and personal transformation.

My hope is that our work together helps you reconnect with your inner wisdom, cultivate self-compassion, and create lasting change.

My path has taken me across different countries, cultures, and communities. I was raised in Minnesota, lived in New Zealand in my twenties, spent time studying in London, and eventually built my life in San Diego with my husband, who is originally from Norway. Along the way, I have formed meaningful relationships with people from many backgrounds, beliefs, and life experiences. These experiences deepened my appreciation for our shared humanity and reinforced something I continue to believe today: we are often far more alike than we are different.

Like many people, I have navigated challenges related to family dysfunction, relational wounds, grief, friendship losses, difficult work environments, and periods of uncertainty and self-discovery. These experiences have shaped me, but they do not define me. Instead, they have strengthened my capacity for empathy, curiosity, and compassion. I am not religious, though I have always been drawn to questions of meaning, purpose, spirituality, and the deeper forces that shape our lives. I hold deep respect for different belief systems and for each person's unique path toward healing, growth, and self-understanding. I believe healing can happen in many ways and that each person's journey is uniquely their own.

Clients often tell me they feel deeply seen, understood, and accepted in our work together. They share that I help them put words to experiences they have struggled to articulate, offer practical tools that stay with them long after our sessions, and create a space where they feel safe enough to explore parts of themselves they may have kept hidden for years.

While my story has shaped who I am, therapy is ultimately about you. My role is not to tell you who you are or who you should become. It is to walk alongside you as you reconnect with your own inner wisdom, develop a more trusting relationship with yourself, and create a life that feels more authentic, meaningful, and aligned.

It would be an honor to support you on your journey.