BS Food and Nutrition: Dietetics – Northwest Missouri State University

MA Counseling and Guidance – University of Missouri, Kansas City

I have worked within various mental health settings and levels of care from outpatient individual therapy, group therapy, college campuses, IOP, PHP, and transitional living environments and I continues to partner with local eating disorder treatment centers in the community.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who works with teens, adolescents, and adults. I utilize compassionate honesty and the strengths of my clients by incorporating empowerment, hope, mindfulness, holistic treatments, and logic to aid in the development of behavioral skills, and applicable solutions for each person’s unique challenges. My passion is helping you develop a positive, empowered, and healthy relationship with your body; from struggling with disordered eating patterns, navigating pregnancy to postpartum changes,  or overcoming traumatic experiences. My approach is to promote self advocacy, and new experiences of your mind and body by addressing anxiety, low self-worth, trust issues, and ineffective relational patterns.

I also have a passion for walking beside adolescents and teens as they navigate the complexities of school, identity, and self-differentiation. The social pressures our teens face today increase risk for anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts or attempts. If this is you, or your teen, you do not have to walk alone.

I have walked my own life transitions with the goal to evaluate and heal my relationship with my body, mind, faith, food, insecurities, and perfectionism. I understand how difficult it is to send the first message, show up in an unfamiliar place, and share your most vulnerable thoughts and experiences with someone you barely know.

My background and education in counseling and nutrition enable me to bring a well-rounded and holistic approach to the counseling relationship that balances the many aspects of the human experience and promotes wholeness. I am respectful and appreciative of all cultures, ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds of those I serves.

My Approach: I mostly practice with a Body Trust, Health at Every Size, and internal family systems (IFS) lens while incorporating behavioral strategies, body integration, and mindfulness. I am trained in a wide array of therapy modalities including dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and EMDR. I use all of these skills to meet you where you are and help move you forward in your journey.

Speaking and Advocacy: I have spoken at local and national conferences on eating disorders, trauma, and mental health concerns and published in national research journals including psychology of women quarterly. If you are looking for someone to speak at an event connect with me. —> learn more about past and upcoming press, outreach, events, and advocacy.

About Opal KC

 I am honored every time I get to create a space for people to share, relate, and move into their life worth living.

I hope to create a space that is both inviting and calming; allowing you an opportunity to explore your values, encounter a more fulfilling life worth living, grow trust in yourself, and experience new ways of thinking, coping, or relating.

Opal KC is the collective mental health practice founded by me. We are a group of health-at-every-size, body inclusive, providers who strive to meet mental health goals while healing and growing trust between you, your mind, and your body. Each of our providers have experience and training in eating disorders while also specializing in additional populations or concerns such as kids, teens, trauma, perinatal, body image, and grief. Learn more at www.opalkc.com