As a daughter of two English teachers, I grew up with a lot of books. When I was a child, adult life looked challenging – it still does, honestly! So I was especially interested in stories that offered clues about how to live. For college I studied comparative literature at Harvard University. Then I raised two stepkids while working as a newspaper reporter and editor. After the kids were grown, I lived in Japan for five years, teaching English.

When I came back to the U.S., I immersed myself in the study and practice of Zen Buddhism for about 15 years. Over time I became curious about how Western approaches to healing would complement the Eastern philosophy and psychology that I was grounded in, so I went back to school for a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Sonoma State University.

The common thread in my various professions has been a dedication to supporting people's unique paths through the questions I've been intrigued by my whole life: How do we find a sense of purpose? How do we live a good life? What can we learn from our suffering? How do we free ourselves from the past?

I'm conditionally licensed by the state of Maine as a clinical professional counselor (LCPC-c). Outside of this work that I love, some of my favorite things are good coffee, art of all kinds, nature, and exploring our beautiful state.