Education
I am a University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) alumnus and received my bachelor’s degree in psychology. I continued my education at Pepperdine University, and received my Master of Arts (MA) in Marriage, Family, & Child Counseling (MFCC).
Professional Background
I have been employed with Creative Support (CS) since 1996. I began as an ILS Instructor, and enjoyed the population and mission of CS so much that I was happy to move into management when offered the opportunity. I have a vast amount of counseling experience and bring problem-solving skills to my management style. I also have a great deal of experience working in the area of parenting, as I have two children of my own. I enjoy working directly with individuals, families, staff, and collaborating with Regional Centers and other agencies to meet the needs of those we support.
Why This Field
Honestly, it was not my initial career path. My plan was to get a law degree and be an advocate for a non-profit organization. I worked in a law firm for a couple of years while attending undergraduate school and realized that law was not nurturing enough for my soul. Although I felt the need to give back to the community, I knew that I needed to make a difference in people’s individual lives. I wanted everyone to get along and be the best version of who they could be. As I studied psychology, It became evident that relationships and connecting with others on a human level is what was important to me. Being the best version of yourself means something different to each individual. Whether you have a developmental disability, physical disability, mental illness, economic disadvantage, or what your challenge may be, every life matters, and everyone deserves the same opportunity to achieve their goals. Once I began working at CS, it allowed me to combine my initial desire to be an advocate, with connecting with others on a meaningful level, and helping those we support be the best versions of who they want to be.
Two People Who Have Inspired Me
The first is Anna Freud. Freud was a pioneer of child psychoanalysis. She developed new techniques to help children, as she found they required different psychological treatments than adults. She also pointed out that the symptoms exhibited by children varied from those displayed by adults which was a result of children’s developmental stages. I was inspired to study marriage & family therapy after being introduced to her books in high school.
Another prominent figure that inspired me at a young age was Helen Keller. Keller overcame disabilities at a time when people with disabilities were either institutionalized or hidden from the public to avoid ridicule. She was able to learn that things had names, and the names could be spelled with her hand, which was non-traditional. She learned Braille, touch-lip reading, and speech, and proved to the world that despite having a disability, one can persevere, and learning has no limits. She dedicated her life to improving the conditions of blind and the deaf-blind around the world.