Interests and Experiences:
I am a Licensed Master Social Worker with an endorsement in Infant Mental Health and a certified Perinatal Mental Health Clinician. I have a passion for helping others and have always been drawn to the tiniest members of our society. From my own childhood, I was babysitting and playing with young children. As I reached college, it was clear that being a social worker and working with babies was my passion. Little did I know there was a perfect field called Infant Mental Health with a Perinatal Mental Health focus, waiting for me upon graduation. Over the past several years following graduation, I have focused my professional career on working with families with young children – addressing the relationship between the baby and caregiver. Through my own experiences in motherhood, I have taken a keen interest in supporting those individuals during the perinatal period – focusing on maternal mental health.
Education:
I graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in Psychology and Sociology in 2006. During my time at U of M I spent a semester volunteering my time in an orphanage in Costa Rica. This experience solidified my desire to work with babies and their caregivers with a true focus on the relationship between the dyad. After receiving my undergraduate degree, I took a detour and pursued a role in the business world, which further clarified my true passion – working with babies and caregivers. I then attended the University of Michigan’s School of Social Work program, graduating in 2010 with a Masters in Social Work. Immediately upon graduation, I began a job working on an attachment based research project. From this rich experience I knew that doing direct work with families in their home and within the community was my next step in working with families. From there I became a home based therapist for over three years. I then had the adventurous opportunity to start my own practice in 2015 with a unique opportunity to serve families within my community.
Dreams:
To support the unique mental health needs of individuals in the perinatal period while providing advocacy and promoting best practice in the field.
Credentials:
- Perinatal Support International Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C)
- Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health Endorsement, Level III (IMH-E III)
- University of Michigan School of Social Work, Masters in Clinical Social Work 2010
- University of Michigan College of Literature, Science & Arts, Bachelors in Psychology and Sociology 2006