Throughout my more than 28 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker working in schools and community mental health, I have always used traditional talk and play therapy in my practice with children and teens. Over the last few years, I felt that it wasn’t enough-that these children required more. They needed another way to process the intense feelings that their small bodies are experiencing on a deep level.
As I realized how much my own meditation and yoga practice had altered my own life, I knew that I could do this with my clients. So I began my journey to use mindfulness and yoga to help kids process difficult emotions. I’m grateful to have found a way to combine my clinical background, compassionate therapeutic abilities, and personal love of mindfulness and yoga to provide kids and teens with the skills they need to face life’s challenges and stay connected to you they are.
I am a die-hard optimist. Not in an “everything is sunshine and rainbows” kind of way, but rather I believe my students can handle hard things if they challenge themselves.
Humor and fun are important. I know that certain topics like stress or anxiety can be difficult to talk about. Laughter helps us let go of uncomfortable feelings and makes learning fun.
Fun Facts: My happy place is running along beautiful South Florida beaches. My favorite candy is plain M&M’s and I love the smell of freshly cut grass. I enjoy watching Marvel movies, baking competition shows (but I don’t like to bake), organizing, lifting heavy weights, and spending time with my cat, Callie.
Training and Experience: After over 26 years in the field, I have a broad range of work experience in multiple settings with children and adolescents. I have worked with a variety of clients and difficulties. I prioritize my continuing education around strengthening my current skills, learning new evidence-based techniques. and adding new skills to my therapeutic toolbox. In addition to being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I am a Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor. I am certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for children and teens; Certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy; and certified as Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional-Child & Adolescent. I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
But that’s not all: I am a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) and Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT) and trained in Jon Kabat Zin’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). And because I love running, I became an RCAA Certified Running Coach. I’m also a children’s book author. I wrote Shantelle, You Smell, to help children deal with bullying and Retrain the Brain, a book to help children understand the impact of trauma and how to manage emotions.
Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about me. I look forward to seeing you in class soon!
Go from crisis to confidence!
