As the Director of Embedded Programs at University Counseling Service, I supervise the Embedded Therapy Program which strategically places therapists’ offices into partnering locations on campus to lower barriers for students seeking mental health services. The program currently has embedded therapists in the College of Law, College of Dentistry, College of Business, Housing & Dining, IVETS, and soon to be in MISSE. Embedded therapists work within a specific community on campus, have offices in their respective colleges’ buildings, and have a specialized understanding for the unique experiences and needs of students within their respective colleges. In this role, I provide support and guidance to therapists as they serve and work with students on addressing their individual mental health wellness. Additionally, I collaborate with our other Associate Directors, Assistant Directors, and UCS Director in the leadership of University Counseling Services, with the goal of ensuring clinicians have the resources needed to meet the needs of the student population. What I love most about this role is being able to help clinicians that are providing direct services to clients, in addition to cultivating partnerships with campus partners in the pursuit of the highest quality of mental health services for the students at the University of Iowa.

Education/Credentials:

• 2020— Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Iowa)
• 2013—Licensed Professional Counselor (Missouri)
• 2012—Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology, The School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute
• 2011—Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, Cornell College (minor in biology)

Additionally, I hold certifications in CBT, DBT, MI, and Trauma Informed Care. I have also been trained in Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (Dr. Bruce Perry)

Clinical/Counseling Interests: 

I primarily take an eclectic approach to therapy with clients, meeting the client where they are and utilizing skills specifically tailored to the client’s needs and preferences through collaboration between myself and the client. I tend to blend aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) while maintaining a trauma-informed, strength-based lens. I believe therapy is collaborative as well as client-driven in nature, with both the therapist and client working together towards a goal identified by the client. Therapy should be a space that feels safe, supportive, and authentic. My clinical interests include dual diagnosis (substance use and mental illness co-occurring), severe mental health functional impairments, neurodiversity, interpersonal concerns, and non-traditional students. 

Multicultural Interests:

Prior to joining UCS, I have served in populations likely to experience higher levels of trauma, marginalization, and socioeconomic inequities. Through my career, I have held roles that range from community mental health, inpatient settings, residential youth treatment, school-based therapy, assertive community treatment, and with individuals involved in the justice system. These experiences have afforded me many opportunities to exercise my passion for advocacy on behalf of all clients. I am committed to maintaining a space that is inclusive, nonjudgemental, and safe, as well as pursuing opportunities to grow my knowledge and experiences to better serve students from all cultural backgrounds. I have experience working with people with many faucets of identities that differ from my own. 

Outreach Interests:

I enjoy a multitude of outreach modalities, to include education on mental wellness, consultation, collaboration with other agencies, increasing accessibility and visibility of mental health services with the goal of reducing stigma related to addressing mental health wellbeing and empowerment of individuals to live a life they love. I believe outreach is most effective when brought to the community, where people spend much of their time.