Oh Joy, where do I begin…I began my love of all that is human behavior in 1990. Senior year of High school where my psychology teacher asked for volunteers to organize a wheelchair basketball game and Christmas party for the medically/IDD patients at the Mass State Hospital School. Seeing the joy in their faces and love of life had me hooked.
From that day forth this is what I’ve been up to;
- B.A- Counseling Psychology SMU/UMASS -‘90-‘94
- BigSister-BBBSFoundation
- Samaritans Suicide Hotline
- Juvenile Probation Officer Intern- Chosen for internship by Psych Dept.
- Group Home Care-IDD Adults being de-institutionalized into the community
- Pallatroni Award- Psych Dept. Award for Contributions to Community
- Mass. Dept. of Social Services-‘95-‘02-SW/Assessment/Intake/Investigator
- Boston college Graduate School of Social Work-‘94-‘95
- M.A., Counseling Psychology-9/‘95-5/‘98
- LSW-‘98
- LMHC-‘02
- FFS Clinician-LMHC- Wayside YFS, Advocates CC-‘02-‘06
- ICC Coordinator- You Inc
- Adolescent Group Home Clinician- The Bridge-‘06-‘07
- New Beginnings Relationship Coaching Counseling- ‘08-Present
- Social Services Advocate- Middlesex County District Courts - CPCS-‘12-‘14
- Mass. Dept. of Children and Families- ‘14-Oct.‘15
- Director of Social Services- West Side House-Veteran SNF/LTC- ‘15-‘16
- Director of Social Services- Worcester Rehab- SNF/LTC-‘16-‘18
- LADC1-‘18- New Beginnings Private Practice
In between these many adventures and experiences, I have been a single mom, stay at home mom, Cheer Coach…That’s the good stuff.
The bad, and I’m not ashamed anymore- I’ve allowed licenses to expire, I’ve voluntarily surrendered a license, I didn’t respond to accusations fully so ability to reapply was revoked and I was fined, I’ve had people file complaints in retaliation for doing what I am mandated to do. I found out I had ADHD. Boy did THAT explain ALLOT! But I never gave up.
I love this work we do and I will always find a way to use the gifts I have been given to help other’s become whatever version of themselves that gives them self love and hope for their future.