WHEN I’M NOT AT WORK, YOU CAN FIND ME…
At brunch, the Ballard Sunday market, watching documentaries and/or making playlists.
WHEN I WANT TO DE-STRESS, I…
First, take some deep breaths!
I also like to call a friend, walk in nature, listen to music, take a nap, and/or distract myself by watching TikToks.
MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR IS…
Autumn! It’s so beautiful in Seattle. I really enjoy the colors of the leaves (and pumpkin spiced lattes, of course).
WHAT LED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER HELPING OTHERS?
I struggled with my own mental health issues in my adolescence and knew I wanted to be in a helping field when I grew up. I want to be the person I needed when I was a teenager. Helping others, even in small ways, has given me a lot of meaning in my life.
WHAT EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERTISE DO YOU BRING TO YOUR ROLE?
I actually studied photography for my undergraduate degree. After graduating, I took a psychology class and was hired at a residential treatment facility for teen girls in Pennsylvania where I worked for 1.5 years.
I then moved to Seattle and worked as a para-educator in Bellevue until getting my position here at Thira Health last summer. I am also currently in graduate school to become a mental health counselor!
WHO/WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
My coworkers are my biggest inspiration. The team at Thira has allowed me to grow personally and professionally. The Mental Health Technician’s are the best team I have ever been a part of. I have also recently been really inspired by Christy Harrison, a Health at Every Size (HAES) Registered Dietician, who is the host of the Food Psych podcast. She has taught me a lot about HAES, intuitive eating, and how to break free from diet culture.
WHAT IS ONE SMALL THING PEOPLE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND INCREASE THEIR HAPPINESS?
Find someone you trust to share your feelings with! Bottling up our emotions and thoughts is not helpful to our mental health. Also, give yourself compassion; remind yourself that you are doing the best that you can with what you have. Recovery is not linear.
