Before I ever became a therapist, I was someone trying to make sense of my own story. My life was chaotic — and had been for as long as I could remember. I knew I had experienced childhood trauma, but I had no idea it was sitting at the root of so much of that chaos. I had always assumed the problem was just… me.
Eventually, a traumatic birth experience brought me to the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), where I found my first real sense of community and understanding. The women of ICAN were the first people who made me feel seen — even in the parts of myself I thought were too messy or too broken to share.
At the same time, I was also struggling with severe Postpartum Depression (that I now know was also compounded by PTSD). I finally decided to give therapy a try. All I knew was that I had to get better, because my daughter deserved better. It took a while before I believed that I deserved better.
Through ICAN, I became passionate about childbirth education and advocacy. That eventually led me to become a childbirth educator and doula. I gravitated toward supporting women who had experienced traumatic births or who carried trauma in general — because I understood the deep, primal wound that can come with those experiences. And I loved teaching. I loved explaining complex medical concepts in ways my clients could understand. With that understanding, they could advocate for themselves – and find their voice – the ultimate goal.
While teaching and childbirth were my first true passion, it wasn’t for the reasons you might think. Don’t get me wrong – seeing a baby being born is really, really, cool! For me, it was the look on mom’s face in the seconds after she births her baby. There’s a moment there, where mom realizes that she is strong and powerful, and that she is not broken, no matter what she, and her body, has been through. For some survivors of sexual trauma, it was the first time they felt connected to their body in a way that was empowering. Those moments were magic to me. I could do that all day.
So I did.
At 38, I decided to go back to school. I got my GED, then earned an associate’s degree, then two bachelor’s degrees, and eventually a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Every step was part of reclaiming my life — moving from a life of survival into a life where I could finally THRIVE!
When it came time to name my practice, I wanted to honor that journey, and the people in it.
I Can THRIVE Counseling: It’s not just a name — It’s a story
I Can THRIVE Counseling comes from two parts of my story:
- ICAN → “I Can” — the community that sparked my healing
- THRIVE → what therapy helped me do
You are my “why.”
Now, I bring my love of teaching into the therapy room. I get to witness those same healing moments — the ones where people connect the dots, understand themselves, find their voice, and realize their strength. The moments where surviving shifts into thriving.
But just like being a doula, I can only work with so many people at a time. This blog is my way of expanding my passion beyond my office walls.
Here, I break down big concepts and hard topics — like trauma, parenting, divorce & co-parenting, adolescent development, and more — into clear, easy‑to‑understand language. My hope is that you will be able to understand yourself better, improve your relationships, raise emotionally healthy kids, and build a life where you can THRIVE.
Welcome to the blog.
I’m glad you’re here.
