I have been so blessed throughout my life, to begin learning about trauma and how to treat and heal it from a very young age. I am so grateful to have been taught by or worked alongside pioneers in the fields of disability rights [1], psychological trauma [2], veterans [3], and spirituality [4]. As much as these experts have taught me, some of the most powerful and gifted teachers I have are my clients. It has been a privilege to learn with them and from them [5]. In the field of disability rights: C. David Roberts, Ph.D., James “Jim” De Jong, James “Jim” Brinkmann, Michael Merrick, and Mark Laird. In the field of psychological trauma: Grandma Lucy, Robert D. Enright, Ph.D., Raymond Lloyd Richmond, Ph.D., Rita Witt (Victims of Domestic Violence), and Joseph “Joe” Marinello (Domestic Violence Offenders). In the field specific to veterans: Alex Waigandt, Ph.D. and Dennis Blang. In the field of spirituality: Grandma Lucy, Raymond Lloyd Richmond, Ph.D., William Coulson, Ph.D., and Sisters of St. Francis.
After 25 years of professional experience with trauma, 15 years as a clinician, and a decade of experience, specializing in Forgiveness Therapy, I was humbled to receive an official endorsement on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022, as “the best Forgiveness Therapy clinician in the country” for my work with treating and healing trauma. This endorsement came from the 2022 American Psychological Foundation Gold Medal Award Winner, Robert D. Enright, Ph.D., who is regarded as “the Father of Forgiveness Therapy” and who Time magazine named “the forgiveness trailblazer”. Dr. Enright has been one of my greatest mentors, as I searched for answers about how to help my clients heal from trauma. I believe that forgiveness is more than a choice. Forgiveness is the opportunity to change the way your story ends. I look forward to being part of your story!
[1] In the field of disability rights: C. David Roberts, Ph.D., James “Jim” De Jong, James “Jim” Brinkmann, Michael Merrick, and Mark Laird.
[2] In the field of psychological trauma: Grandma Lucy, Robert D. Enright, Ph.D., Raymond Lloyd Richmond, Ph.D., Rita Witt (Victims of Domestic Violence), and Joseph “Joe” Marinello (Domestic Violence Offenders).
[3] In the field specific to veterans: Alex Waigandt, Ph.D. and Dennis Blang.
[4] In the field of spirituality: Grandma Lucy, Raymond Lloyd Richmond, Ph.D., William Coulson, Ph.D., and Sisters of St. Francis.
[5] I believe that I will always be a lifelong learner because I thrive on learning and that if I am “the best forgiveness therapy clinician in the country” and “the most qualified to train other clinicians” based on my experience in treating and healing trauma, including complex trauma, I can only be the best if I continue to learn and grow from the best teachers. However, I have my own identity. The only teacher who I worship is Christ Himself, who has been and always will be my best teacher. I have the confidence to trust my training and my ability to interpret the unconscious and assist in the healing of the hearts of others. This is all possible because of what I’ve learned and continue to learn, each and every day. It’s my passionate desire to learn that has even saved lives.