BIOGRAPHY

Prior to graduating from Doane University with a Masters Degree in Counseling I spent 27 years working in emergency medicine as a Nurse and Respiratory Care Practitioner. I believe that my medical background gives me a unique perspective on how physical and mental health affect each other. I have resources for Medication Management and Chemical Dependency Assessment if needed. Throughout my career I was fortunate to have several wonderful mentors who gave me experience in helping individuals with a variety of mental health needs which would include adult childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, Bi-Polar Disorder, divorce, and life threatening illness, to mention a few. I completed internships with a grief support network working with families who have experienced  the serious illness or death of someone special to them. I also completed internships through CEDARS youth services where I developed a mental health model for youth. I than took this model and used it to help develop the Youth Links program for Heartland Family Services. I was fortunate enough to take an internship in private practice which focused on victims of torture, PTSD in first responders and military personnel and their families.  I worked with At Ease USA providing mental health care to active military personnel, veterans and their loved ones. I was blessed to be able to teach at Creighton University in their Pre medical and Pre dental program. I also taught at Bellevue University and College of Saint Mary as an adjunct professor in their Behavioral Health Programs. I am currently working on a mental health model to use in treating first responders and others with Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).