About Me

My WHY.

 

Several times throughout my journey, I have been asked, "Why social work?" My answer seemed simple enough, so I would reply, "I want to be the person for someone else that I needed so many different times in my life." But what does that even mean? Who did I need? I was surrounded by people even in some of my darkest days. Then I realized I needed somebody to hear me. I needed somebody to see me. I needed someone to acknowledge my pain and most of all I needed somebody to help me find my way towards Healing. It took me nearly two decades to find the person that I didn't know I needed. Only then was I able to begin my own personal Journey in Healing. I realized for many years I wasn't thriving, I was just barely surviving. I finally was able to start living. And then the world around me became a little more clearer. I wanted to help people find their clarity. That's who I wanted to be for someone else.

 

I worked as a paralegal in a law firm for about 20 years. I thought that was the helping profession I needed to be in. We would help folks get through some of their worst days - out of domestic violence situations, recover and settle from medical malpractice and car accidents, settling their loved one’s estates, and battles in divorce and custody matters. Some situations would seemingly be positive such as adoption and child custody resolution or fighting back after being wrongly accused. But then what? Where were they left after the ink on the settlements and court orders dried? For some, huge victories were won. But that didn't resolve their trauma. That was just a step in their journey. They needed clarity and emotional resolve and stability. And I realized I wanted to be that person to help them find it.

 

After digging deep, I decided I was going to be a therapist. I went to grad school while raising four kids, maintaining a household, being a partner (to my now husband), working full time, and providing in-home care for my aging grandmother. It was decided that I would finish school and get a job as a therapist. Or so I thought.

 

When I began my second and third year internships, I chose to explore other areas of social work. Why not? I knew I was going to be a therapist. I would just get some additional experience along the way. I briefly explored forensic social work and worked with inmates who were preparing for their trials and trying to mitigate the effects of what caused them to be incarcerated, preparing for possible release. I interned at a local agency geared towards folks with mental health diagnoses to help support them navigate various aspects of daily life. Some of these folks had experienced great trauma, affected by substance abuse, were homeless or just lost. Then I interned at Child Protective Services. This was a huge turning point for me. I realized that a lot of trauma that we experience starts in childhood. After graduation and passing my exam to become a LMSW (License Master Social Worker), I applied for and accepted an employment position with Child Protective Services. I witnessed the level of abuse and neglect that some children experienced, the generational cycles of abuse, the seemingly uncontrollable circumstances in which some families find themselves, the chaos that substance abuse can cause, and in worst case scenarios the loss that abuse or neglect can ultimately cause, whether it be by death, incarceration of a parent, or by removal of a child from a household. Whether the abused, the abuser, the codependent, or bystanders, there are so many folks that are affected. Having given 6 years in this field and having put in over 3,000 clinical hours, I passed my examination to become a Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical (LCSW-C), and then I knew it was time to move on. But again, I decided I wanted to explore a little bit further before I ended up in my goal role as a therapist.

 

In 2024, I became a School Social Worker. I've had the privilege of learning what it is like inside the educational system and working with some amazing teachers and students. My primary role is supporting students with social, emotional and behavioral goals to process their emotions and develop coping strategies to better navigate the educational setting. Then just like that, I realized it was time. I had collected a wealth of information to help children, adolescents, and adults through situations that impacted their daily lives and emotional well-being throughout various stages of life. By this point, I had worked with people who had experienced their darkest days, mental health and medical diagnosis that created barriers in living their best life, children and adults who are processing childhood trauma, and folks that just feel alone and need that one person - the person that I needed.

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I am here, now, ready to be that person. "I want to be the person for someone else that I needed so many different times in my life."