Veterans and First Responders

Mission Statement

TNHC is a Veteran owned and operated mental health practice that upholds the highest standard of care for our community while delivering effective therapeutic interventions. Our goal is to cultivate a community of healing through various methods of treatment, both on the individual level and community level.

We Got Your Six

The time has come, you are on your way to your training site. You leave behind your family, your friends, everything that you knew as normal. As your training days go on, you learn new skills, build new friendships, and soon you are ready to serve your community. After you pass your training and move on to the next stage in life, you are excited at the opportunity to serve your country/community and create a wonderful life for yourself and your family.

As you settle into this profession, you realize the hours are tough and the calls are challenging, but you push through. You get the opportunity to work alongside some of the best service men and women, and you get to see some of the worst scenes. Over time this weighs on you, and you find yourself feeling tired, guilty, numb, isolated, and disconnected from the version of you that feels well. Maybe you are constantly scanning or avoiding fun activities, taking away from potential positive experiences with family and friends. This is not the life you envisioned for yourself or your family. You want to feel better, but can’t pinpoint exactly what is going on. You want to speak up about it, but for some reason you can’t.

What if you had the space where you could speak freely about some of the challenges you face? What if there was a therapeutic approach where you did not have to talk about all the details of a challenging call and still be able to work through it and feel better? Imagine being able to shake off the weight that’s accumulated over time being a first responder, active military, or veteran. Being able to be present in the moment, engage with your family and friends, experience positive emotions, and improve your quality of life. This version of you is possible, let’s team up and uncover it.

Growing up I always admired police officers, and this passion to serve others led me to an undergraduate degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Not long after graduating college I raised my right hand and joined the US Army as a Military Police Soldier. Throughout my time in the military, it became clear that the mental health of my brothers and sisters was in crisis, and I felt driven to provide solutions. This is when I decided to attend graduate school, where I received my Master’s in Social Work, which provides me the tools to heal those who put their mental health aside to serve others.

My goal as a veteran and as a therapist is to hold space for veterans and first responders to process wounds that predate service and heal wounds that occurred while serving. My goal as the owner of True North Healing Center is to destigmatize mental health and spread awareness that mental health is no different than physical health, because your mind and body are one in the same. So, let’s talk about mental health, to heal as individuals and as a community.

For as long as I can recall, I always wanted to serve my country, community, and others. After graduating high school in 1996, my journey brought me into service to my country. I enlisted in the United States Military, serving in the Infantry and alongside brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, eventually leaving military service in 2008. After my military service, I continued my service as a police officer and deputy sheriff. Now, with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I am choosing to continue to serve others, helping them navigate their lives toward mental health and wellness.

My goal as a therapist and as someone who spent a long time in the veteran and first responder community is to assist those who continue to serve with the healing of wounds that have been received due to that service. Many have faced danger or continue to face those dangers head-on but are confronted by a stigma that unfortunately continues to remain. As Veterans and First Responders, we have long embraced the warrior ethos and lived according to codes such as honor, courage, bravery, commitment, and integrity. I’m a therapist who is passionate about still living within those codes. I want to help you understand that you need to honor your commitment to yourself to stay healthy both physically and mentally, have the courage and bravery to be vulnerable and open to positive change, and have a commitment to yourself and integrity to look for improvements within yourself. I look forward to working with you to help you be the best version of yourself both professionally and personally.

Ever since I can remember, I have always had a passion in helping others out whether it be physical or emotional support. Throughout college I worked as an firefighter/EMT where I attained hands-on experience responding to emergencies. My experience working on an ambulance and in the fire department greatly influenced my future to pursue a career in social work. It allowed me to understand the importance of learning about mental health and developing coping skills in order to grow as a person and overcome the hardships we go through.

I now have a passion as a therapist in working alongside first responders, helping heal through all the hardships that are faced on shift. Mental health affects us all in one way or another, and I am hoping to spread education on the importance of mental health. Abraham Maslow once said, “in any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.” My goal is to help first responders step forward into growth and to talk about their mental health.

Life is full of experiences that challenge resilience of both mind and body. My therapeutic approach revolves around the belief that true healing arises from honoring one’s authentic self and embracing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. Through compassionate understanding and unconditional support, I strive to create a safe and nurturing space where my clients can embark on their transformative journey to recovery and self-discovery.

Prior to leaning into my true passion and pursuing a career in mental health, I worked in the medical field for over a decade. My background provides me with unique perspectives in the mind-body connection and the value of a holistic approach, as well as a deep understanding of the emotional challenges of caregiving professions. As the wife of a now retired military officer with 22 years of service, I have also personally witnessed the sacrifices and challenges faced by both those who serve and their families. I am fortunate to have been able to integrate my journey into my professional counseling experience working with veterans, first responders, and their partners. In this time, I have sought to provide a safe space for those who have selflessly served their country and communities, and help them to navigate the complexities of trauma.

In my free time, I am passionate about deepening my yoga practice and finding solace in nature through hiking, kayaking, and skiing with my husband and two children. Through my dedication to make time for joy, I find balance, growth, and a deep appreciation for the world around me.

I am committed to empowering you on your journey to healing and resilience. With an open heart and open mind, I stand ready to support and guide you towards lasting positive change.

I became interested in helping others ever since I was a child. Which led to me exploring the various career paths within the helping profession for several years. I explored and rode along with EMTs/Paramedics, police officers, and took a medical exploration course at the local hospital in high school only to then understand that being a counselor felt like the best fit for me.

I obtained my master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University. I have been in the mental health field for several years and worked with several populations with varying levels of care. During my master’s program I worked full-time at a psychiatric inpatient hospital to support those who were trying to cope with various hardships life can throw at us. This experience led to me developing an interest in crisis work as well as developing skills that allows me to feel confident working with severe trauma/PTSD.

My most recent work as a clinician has been working with Veterans/active Military and First Responders which is a population that I feel passionately about and have greatly valued working with. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to share/hold space for those who choose to be open and vulnerable after seeing and experiencing trauma day after day.

When I am not working, I enjoy relaxing outside, swimming, hanging with my cats, finding and listening to new music, and taking time to be with my friends and family.

I know the difficulty and discomfort it takes to reach out and ask for help, but that discomfort and difficulty will be matched with acceptance and empathy. As your clinician I will help you understand your own strengths and resilience, support you in achieving your goals, and get creative while doing so.